KATHMANDU: Writers at a programme held in the Capital today said time had come for them to help the country tide over its problems by means of their pieces.

Addressing a discussion programme titled 'responsibilities of and challenges for writers in the present context', jointly organised by the Press Council Nepal (PCN) and the Writers' Club Nepal, Narayan Prasad Sharma, chairperson, PCN, said the writers needed to make joint efforts to create public opinion in order to institutionalise the gains of the recent people's movement by promulgating a new constitution.

Participating writers voiced agreement that the country was heading through turbulence and that the writers had a role to provide political leaders a sense of direction to help settle the country's problems. Presenting a concept paper, Advocate Borna Bahadur Karki pointed out four missions for the writers , including facilitating a logical end to the ongoing peace process. Rajesh Ahiraj, editor of Madhesbani, historian Dr Surendra KC, columnist Bhim Prasad Bhurtel, advocate Gopal Sibakoti 'Chintan' also aired their views, outlining the role of writers and columnists in the nation building process.