KATHMANDU: President Ram Chandra Paudel has stated that humans and nature must be kept at the center of development and construction.

Addressing a program organized on the occasion of the 64th anniversary of the Nepal Engineers’ Association, President Paudel emphasized that the concept of development must be linked to the welfare of the people and the prosperity of the country.

“During development and construction, we must not forget our diversity, including history, geography, culture, and ethnic composition,” he said. “It is necessary to rapidly advance production, employment, and economic activities in a way that addresses the demands of the present time and the aspirations of the new generation.”

President Paudel mentioned that a country that is geographically complex but rich in natural resources urgently needs sustainable and eco-friendly infrastructure today, noting that climate change stands as a major challenge before the country.

“In such a situation, our roads, bridges, and hydropower projects must be resilient to natural disasters,” he said. “Our development must be based on the principles of ‘green development’.”

President Paudel stated that the future of any country depends on the mindset, energy, and capability of its youth. He clarified that the dream of economic prosperity and a prosperous Nepal can only be realized when the innovative thinking of young minds is integrated with the technical skills of engineers.