Next decade will be IT Decade: Communications Minister Gurung

Kathmandu: Minister for Communications and Information Technology Prithvi Subba Gurung has asserted that the next decade will be the information technology decade.

Responding to lawmakers’ queries during the deliberations on headings of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology under the Appropriation Bill, 2082, in today’s meeting of the House of Representatives, Minister Gurung said that programmes have been formulated to use new technology developed in the information technology sector maximum.

‘The government has a goal of developing the IT sector as an export industry by attracting the private sector towards the sector, creating employment and self-employment opportunities and using IT to the maximum in service delivery,’ he argued.

The government was fully committed towards freedom of expression and press freedom, shared Minister Gurung, adding the ministry has a plan to achieve socio-economic transformation and economic prosperity through IT. He opined that the ministry was committed to promoting good governance and e-governance, and it would bring an integrated action plan of annual programmes from the beginning of the coming fiscal year to achieve the goals of determined indicators, as well as the programme would be reviewed regularly.

The Communications Minister expressed the view that activities including expansion of BTS and FTTH would be forwarded as per the need to provide quality telecom service across the country, stating that the government would amend Advertisement (Regulation) Act, make advertisement market systematic regularly, promote business environment and make coordination with province governments, local levels and bodies concerned to ensure general consumers’ welfare in coming fiscal year.

Minister Gurung shared that Rs 280 million has been allocated for public welfare advertisement for the coming fiscal year, clarifying that the ministry would distribute grants to media-related organisations as per the Grant and Financial Aid Disbursement Procedure, 2080, to promote media-related organisations.

Stating that Gorkhapatra corporation has been publishing and disseminating news and contents in 45 mother languages, 25 from Public Service Radio Nepal, 14 from Nepal Television and three from Rastriya Samachar Samiti to establish access of all citizens to mass media, he opined that news and contents would be published and broadcasted in additional languages in coming fiscal year.

Ninety-two-year-old contents of Gorkhapatra Daily have been archived digitally, as well as 55,431 audio contents of Radio Nepal have also been archived to keep them safe for the coming generation, he argued. The Minister went on to say that it has been scheduled to disseminate disaster early warning information from upcoming fiscal year via Radio Nepal and the telecommunications SMS system.

Similarly, Minister Gurung assured that the role of Press Council Nepal will be more effective to promote media credibility, taking time to say that the National News Agency (RSS) provides news services 24 hours, ensuring timely and fact-based news for the media and the masses.

According to him, an Artificial Intelligence (AI) policy is in the approval phase, and an AI Center will be established in the upcoming year to promote, regulate, and facilitate the use of AI. The policy aims to integrate advanced technology in the IT sector.

He apprised the House that broadband internet service has already reached 6,566 ward offices at various local levels, and efforts are ongoing to extend it to the entire wards in the coming fiscal year. More, 4,272 health centres and 5,341 community secondary schools have already access to broadband internet facility, which will be further expanded in the upcoming year, according to the Minister.

He said the bill regarding information technology and cybersecurity has already been registered in the parliament, and the National Cyber Security Centre has been established to prepare for cyber resilience.

Pledging to revise and implement the concept of the digital Nepal framework, he said a system has been developed to integrate most government facilities into the Nagarik App to increase citizens’ access to government and public services and the scale of efficiency of such services.

As stated by the Government spokesperson, “One Local Level, One Smart Post Office” programme will be implemented from the upcoming fiscal year, and the construction of an advanced fill studio has already begun in Banepa of Kavrepalanchok.

‘Nepali filmmakers will be encouraged to follow the latest technologies and best practices from the international film market. Under the Security Printing Act, 2081 (BS), related infrastructure is being built within the country to print materials of sensitive nature within the country,’ he said.

RSS