KATHMANDU: Newly appointed Secretary at the Ministry of Information and Communications Dinesh Kumar Thapaliya on Thursday said that initiatives would be taken to make service providing sectors under the Ministry and government media professional competitive and self-sustainable.

Talking to media at Singha Durbar after assuming office, Secretary Thapaliya said that plans would be made to develop government media as institutionalised public sector organisations and professional enough to compete with the private media.

He said that it was need of the hour to make entire journalism sector systematic. Its freedom and autonomy should not be misinterpreted, he added.

"Information is power, power rules, and the rule leads to peace and prosperity", said Thapaliya.

"The Press Council Nepal would be assisted in enforcing the journalist code of conduct," the Secretary added.

He directed the government employees to work in line with the federal structure, do result-oriented works and be prepared for progress and changes.

On the occasion, Joint Secretary at the Ministry Ek Narayan Aryal said that they were ready to work in line with the government’s policy, programmes and concept of new leadership.

The programme was also attended by General Manager at the Department of Information Laxmi Bilas Koirala, General Manager at Nepal Television Laxman Humagain, General Manager at Gorkhapatra Corporation Sushil Koirala, Executive Director at Radio Nepal Suresh Kumar Karki and Chief Administrator at Rastriya Samachar Samiti Somnath Lamichhane.