Kathmandu, April 19

Nepali Congress leaders today said access to the internet was very important for the economic development of the country.

Speaking at a workshop ‘Challenges and opportunities on equal access to the internet for all Nepalis’ organised by Nepal Student Union on the occasion of its 46th anniversary, NC leaders pledged to support the union and government to ensure people access to the internet in all parts of the country.

Currently, only the urban areas and the district headquarters have internet connectivity. Around 80 per cent of the Nepalis, who live in the rural areas, do not have access to the internet.

NC senior leader Ramchandra Paudel expressed his commitment to support the service providers to expand internet connectivity across the country.

“Country’s economic development is not possible without internet connectivity,” said another NC leader Prakash Sharan Mahat.

NC leader Minendra Rijal, UML leader Prakash Jwala, All Nepal National Free Student Union leader Nabina Lama, ANNISU-R leader RC Nepal, Nepal Telecom chairman Digamber Jha and representatives of various internet service providers were also present at the programme.