KATHMANDU, JUNE 5

Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has said the government is committed to making necessary work plans to mainstream the provinces which are comparatively backward in terms of cooperation among the three tiers of government.

"The initiatives and suggestions from the Sudurpaschim Concern Forum will be helpful to frame development policy and plan and carry out implementation in the federal and provincial governments," he observed.

PM Deuba reminded that after passing SLC from Uchchakot School of Doti, he had to make a long journey to arrive in Kathmandu for higher study. The travel was sometimes on foot and sometimes by train and bus and he had to even cross the border. The entire travel up to Dhangadi was on foot and the border was crossed to catch a train up to Raxaul.

"Comparatively, the far-western region has now witnessed much development.

It is connected to the federal capital with transport facility. However, development as per expectation is awaited," PM Deuba said. "If the Paschim Seti project is carried out, this province will develop more," he argued.

According to him, contribution from all sides is imperative to aid the government's efforts to wipe out poverty and inequality. He also shared that agreement was reached with India for construction of a dry port. "Foreign investment is necessary to ensure speedy development in Nepal," the PM emphasised.

The Sudurpaschim Concern Forum has been working for the development of Far- West Nepal for 16 years. The forum's Chairperson Bishnu Prasad Khatri submitted a memorandum to the PM on the issues of concern in Sudurpaschim Province.

A version of this article appears in the print on June 6, 2022, of The Himalayan Times.