Ghimire, Shrestha appointed chairs of NTA, Press Council Nepal

KATHMANDU: Arjun Ghimire has been appointed Chairperson of the Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) and Umesh Shrestha Chair of Press Council Nepal, following a decision by the Council of Ministers on Wednesday.

The two appointees received their letters of appointment from Minister for Information and Communication, Dr Bikram Timilsina, today. After presenting the letters, Minister Dr Timilsina congratulated both appointees, noting they were selected through a competitive process, and urged them to work in a result‑oriented manner.

Dr Timilsina said the recommendation committee chose them based on confidence that they could carry out their duties fairly, impartially and effectively. He instructed them to play a significant role as heads of regulatory bodies and to set an example in the field of information and communication.

The Communication Minister said the Press Council will have an important role in making the media sector more responsible, dignified and effective, and warned that misinformation and disinformation are major challenges at present. He called for measures to identify and address these problems.

In the telecommunications sector, Minister Timilsina recommended developing short‑, medium‑ and long‑term action plans that place citizens’ interests and service quality at the centre. He added that the MoIC is ready to provide policy and institutional support where needed, and that revisions to existing laws are underway, with discussions on the Media Council Bill and the Mass Media Bill already in progress.

Newly appointed chair of Press Council Nepal, Shrestha, said the nature of the media has changed while the law governing the Press Council remains outdated, and he highlighted the need for timely amendments. “My priority will be to strengthen the system of self‑regulation in journalism by effectively implementing the journalist code of conduct,” he said. He pledged to act as a bridge of trust between the government and the media sector and said the Council would remain active in promoting responsible journalism while protecting press freedom.

NTA Chair Ghimire said he would focus on resolving existing shortcomings in the telecommunications sector. He affirmed his commitment to building a citizen‑oriented, responsible and effective telecommunications sector and to delivering quality, customer‑friendly services in cooperation with the Ministry of Communications and other stakeholders.

(With inputs from RSS)