KATHMANDU: Prime Minister Balendra Shah has moved to appoint Joint Secretary Pradip Pariyar as his Private Secretary, signaling a preference for trusted former colleagues as he builds his top-tier administrative team.

Pariyar, currently serving at the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration, shares a long professional history with Shah, having served as the Chief Administrative Officer of Kathmandu Metropolitan City during Shah’s tenure as Mayor.

The decision comes after Pariyar successfully navigated legal challenges that previously shadowed his career. Although the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) had filed a corruption case against him, Pariyar was recently acquitted of all charges, clearing the path for his return to a central role in government.