<p>Nepali Congress Parliamentary Party (NCPP)'s executive committee has called for a meeting at 4:30 pm today to discuss on the restructuring of the various local units such as village council, municipalities, special protected area and autonomous areas.<br><br>According to NC PP Secretary Dhruba Wagle, a meeting is also called on Tuesday morning at 8:00 am for the same. The meeting is expected to make an official common viewpoint on the restructuring of local bodies as well as the contemporary political issues. <br><br>The NC earlier on Sunday had held a joint meeting of its central committee and districts presidents to discuss on the sameThe major political parties have been keen on the restricting of the local units since the Local Bodies Restructuring Commission suggested 565 local units in the country.</p><p>NC argues that it was not practical to determine less number of village council and municipalities for the largest party of the second Constituent Assembly believes that rendering public services would suffer inconvenience if so. <br><br><br></p>

<p>the Election Commission (EC) has complained the government of delaying formulation of necessary laws to hold the elections. <br><br>The constitution has stipulated that Nepal would hold the elections of local, provincial and federal levels by mid January 2018. <br><br>Holding a meeting with the Chief Election Commissioner and other officials at the Commission today, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal said the government is striving to create the atmosphere conducive for the elections by formulating necessary laws and holding talks with the agitating political parties. <br><br>During the discussion with the EC officials, the PM informed that the local body restructuring commission has been asked to submit its report within mid October. The date for the election could be fixed four months before the elections, he added. But, the EC demanded at least six months before the election to fix the date.<br><br>PM Dahal, who reached the EC office with Minister for Physical Planning and Infrastructure Development, Ramesh Lekhak; Minister for Federal Affairs and Local Development, Hitraj Pandey, and Chief Dr Somlal Subedi, said, all elections should be held in the time the constitution has stipulated. If the elections are not held on time; constitution won't be implemented.<br><br>According to the PM, the major political parties could forge agreement on the threshold. <br>&nbsp;<br>Moreover, Minister Lekhak said government would not budge from its commitment. He urged the EC to prepare a checklist of the activities the government and EC should carry out regarding the elections. <br><br>During the meeting, Chief Election Commissioner Dr Ayodhi Prasad Yadav informed the high level team that nine laws are necessary to hold the elections. <br>Dr Yadav further said EC should be allowed to purchase necessary materials not based on Public Procurement Act but on other election related laws. <br><br></p>

<p>Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has said more systematic dissemination of information is essential to realize people's aspiration for change and prosperity. Information dissemination that unites the <br><br>entire country and people is needed in the present transition when the constitution is being implemented, he said.<br><br>Speaking at a programme organized by the National Information Commission (NIC) to mark the 9th National Information Day in the capital today, Prime Minister Dahal stressed on the need of effective enforcement of the right to information to guide the society towards the path to stability and prosperity, and also to make the people creative.<br><br>Also speaking at the programme, Minister for Information and Communications Surendra Kumar Karki called for strengthening postal services after establishing information centres at the local level. He said there is no need for all to enter Singh Durbar if they get information at their own local level. <br><br>Democracy would be strengthened if the people acquired the right information, he said.<br><br>&nbsp;Similarly, Parliamentary Development Committee Chair Rabindra Adhikari said that the government activities would not be transparent unless the political parties maintained the same. He urged political parties for transparency in economic and other affairs as it is directly linked with reforms of the democracy. &nbsp;<br><br>Similarly, chief secretary Dr Somlal Subedi shared that the government is working to reach the Kathmandu-centered information to the local level and creating the environment for easily enjoying 32 fundamental rights guaranteed by the constitution. &nbsp;<br>&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;<br>Chief Information Commissioner Krishna Hari Banskota said that the government is doing its business by issuing letters by stamping 'confidential' and 'highly confidential' on them, which he termed as a trend of 'hiding the information'. <br><br><br></p>

<p>The eighth finance ministerial meeting of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) would give priority to the issues of trade and investment promotion in the region.<br><br>The meeting has been scheduled for coming August 25 and 26 in Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan.</p><p>Under Secretary at the Finance Ministry, International Economic Cooperation Division, Surya Pokharel, said that issue of trade facilitation and connectivity would get priority in the meeting. <br><br>He said that ministers participating in the meeting would also hold discussion on operation of a SAARC Development Fund for the infrastructure development of South Asian countries. <br><br>Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Krishna Bahadur Mahara is scheduled to lead the Nepali delegation to the meeting, according to his press advisor Trivuwan Poudel. <br>&nbsp;<br><br><br></p>