KATHMANDU: As per the 2018 World Press Freedom Index, Nepal has slipped six spot down to the 106th position compared to last year's ranking among 180 countries.

According to the World Press Freedom Index 2018, Nepal garnered 32.05 points. Earlier, Nepal was ranked 100th with 33.02 points.

Bhutan is ranked top among the SAARC nations occupying the 96th position with 30.73 points, followed by Nepal. Afghanistan in 118th, Maldives in 120th and Sri Lanka in the 131st position, respectively, follow Nepal.

However, India, one of the worlds largest democracy, is ranked 138th with 43.24 points, at par with Pakistan which shares the same points in the index.

Bangladesh languishes at the bottom among SAARC nations at the 146th position with 48.62 points.

Meanwhile, China, Syria, Turkmenistan, Eritrea and North Korea have made it to the bottom-five list whereas Norway, Sweden, Netherlands, Finland and Switzerland ranked among the top five nations in the Press Freedom index.

Earlier today, the Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) organised a rally to mark the day under the banner 'Observation of Power: Media, Justice and Rule of Law.' The rally started at Babarmahal before converging into a corner meeting at New Baneshwor, this morning.

On the occasion former FNJ Presidents Mahendra Bista and Taranath Dahal highlighted on the growing impunity and government failure in taking prompt action against those carrying out attacks on journalists.

Addressing the corner meeting, FNJ President Govinda Acharya said, although press freedom was embedded into the constitution’s preamble, it was not being implemented in practice.

Meanwhile, various media persons and organisations took part in the rally to celebrate the World Press Freedom Day today in Kathmandu.

The World Press Freedom day is being marked across the globe today by organising various events.

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