PM presents annual report of NSC to prez

KATHMANDU: Prime Minister and National Security Council’s Chairperson KP Sharma Oli today presented the council’s annual report for the fiscal 2017/18 to President Bidhya Devi Bhandari.

On the occasion, President Bhandari advised NSC office bearers to execute management-related works in a way that would strengthen the country’s overall security system.

The constitutional provision related to national security (Article 266) states that there shall be a National Security Council to recommend formulation of policies for strengthening national security, and mobilisation and control of the Nepali Army. Provisions related to national security have been analysed in the report.

Presenting the report to the president, PM Oli said there seemed to be no national or regional security threat at present. Security measures implemented during and after the local, provincial and parliamentary elections have also been incorporated in the report.

The report praised the role and contribution of the Nepali Army mobilised in holding all three tiers of elections in a peaceful environment.

The report presents in-depth analysis of issues such as terrorism; impact of climate change; regional and internal security challenges; criminal activities of divisive forces and armed groups; refugees’ problems and mutual cooperation among regional countries.

NSC member Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Ishwor Pokhrel; Home Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa; Minister of Foreign Affairs Pradeep Kumar Gywali; Finance Minister Dr Yuba Raj Khatiwada; prime minister’s political adviser Bishnu Prasad Rimal; Chief Secretary Lok Darshan Regmi; Chief of Army Staff Purna Chandra Thapa and council member-secretary and Defence Secretary Bishnu Prasad Lamsal were present on the occasion.