KATHMANDU: Minister for Information and Communications, Dr Bikram Timilsina, has reiterated that government is fully committed to protection and promotion of freedom of expression, press and right to information.

Government has given utmost priority to mass media sector with making of new laws and policy so that media sector would be dignified, responsible and credible, Minister Dr Timilsina said while responding to lawmakers’ queries on Appropriation Bill-2026 in the House of Representatives meeting today.

He furnished responses to lawmaker’s queries relating to budget allocation on different headings of Ministry of Information and Communications in the parliament. The government policies and programmes and budget for the upcoming fiscal year, 2026/27 have prioritized five sectors such as mass communication, telecommunications, postal service, film and printing.

According to him, the Ministry was allocated Rs 5.93 billion.

The subordinate agencies of the Ministry like Nepal Television, RSS, Gorkhapatra Corporation, Radio Nepal and Film Development Board were running on both internal resources and the grant by government, while Nepal Telecommunications Authority and the Nepal Telecom were able to sustain on their own resources.

The programmes incorporated in the polices and programmes and budget would be enforced by formulating an integrated annual work plan, he said, adding that regular review, monitoring and evaluation would be conducted.

The lawmakers had raised the queries relating to protection of private media, rights of working journalists, management of social media, digital safety, control of ‘fake news’ etc.

Citizen’s freedom of expression and press freedom would not be suppressed; the National Information Commission has been made active to ensure information of public concern to citizens and make public agencies accountable and credible, he explained.

Ministry has been concerned over journalists’ right to have minimum wage, he said, reminding that the media houses were made mandatory to submit payroll details at Department of Information and Broadcasting for claiming service from the Department. Government is committed to not allow financial exploitation of journalists. Workplace safety is equally important.

Rs 2.4 million allocated for innovation, fact-check

He argued running unions and organizations of media persons with their affiliation to the political parties was against the values of press freedom or international standard. Rs 5 million was allocated for media related organizations, while Rs 2.1 million for investigative fellowship, Rs 2.4 million for media innovation and fact-check, and Rs 4 million for complaint management and transparency programmes.

Minister Dr Timilsina further informed lawmakers that the system of issuing early warning through public broadcasting organizations and through SMS from telecommunications service providers was also being enforced effectively during natural disasters.

In response to lawmakers’ concern over quality of mobile network and internet service in rural, hilly and mountainous areas, the Minister said the expansion of quality and accessible telecommunication services was a top priority of the government. Timely amendment to the Telecommunications Act is afoot, he said, adding that the quality of service is being improved through regular monitoring of mobile networks, drive test and network optimization.

RTDF use for communications expansion

Mobilization of the Rural Telecommunication Development Fund (RTDF) under the Nepal Telecommunications Authority was intensified to expand communication services in the far-flung areas and having fresh demand.

Expansion of BTS, e-NodeB, mobile towers and ‘Fiber to the Home’ (FTTH) infrastructure was going on across the country, he said, adding that FTTH service, which reached all 77 district headquarters, is now being extended to all municipalities and rural municipalities.

He argued ongoing expansion of optical fiber will improve quality in the areas along the Mid-Hill Highway and other highways. Currently, broadband internet service has reached 6,743 ward centres, broadband connection already at 4,272 health institutions and 5,341 community secondary schools, according to the Minister.

Total of 763 new infrastructures have been put in place through Nepal Telecom by mid June of current fiscal year, including 2G in 162 locations, 3G in 13 locations and 4G in 588 locations. Process to purchase an additional 1,597 BTS and e-NodeB has been forwarded for the coming fiscal year.

The Minister informed that a campaign was in full swing in a bid to make the postal service modern, technology-friendly and service-oriented. Rs 25 million was allocated to construct information technology infrastructures in 50 more local levels’ post offices next fiscal year. He added informed that investment would also be made in the modernization of the postal service under the Nepal Digital Transformation Project.

Official documents like passports, driving licenses, land ownership certificates, lab samples/reports, ATM cards of the Rastriya Banijya Bank, materials of the Health Insurance Board and various other documents were currently ferried to people’s doorsteps through the post office. EMS service has been expanded to all districts with access to air services in the country. Express postal service is being run connecting 39 countries and parcel service connecting 93 destinations of 71 countries. Efforts are on to restructure the postal service, ensuring it a new model of service. The door-to-door service delivery was running in 62 districts across the country.

In order for the international promotion of films, documentaries and photography, the process for film shooting was eased, Minister Dr Timilsina informed lawmakers. Establishment of a state-of-the-art film studio kicked off in Banepa, Kavrepalanchowk. It is aimed to complete the project within next fiscal year.

A film-related Bill was registered in the federal parliament and was under discussion in the Committee of the House of Representatives, the Minister added. An incentive grant of Rs. 35 million has allocated for the next fiscal year targeting the production of films showing cultural and national values.

Responding to queries about financial crisis and technological barriers facing the country’s printing sector, Minister Dr Timilsina shared that infrastructures were being constructed to produce sensitive printing materials in the country in accordance with Security Printing Act, 2081. Printing postage stamps and driving licenses have already begun in the country.

Out of 2.9 million driving licenses, 1.8 million driving licenses have already been printed and all the remaining ones would be printed within the current fiscal year, according to him. Environment would be created to print license immediately as per the demand from coming fiscal year. Rs 3.24 million budget was allocated for Security Printing Centre for coming fiscal year, 2026/27.

The Minister for Information and Communications said efficiency in allocation was adopted for maximum utilization of budget. Programmes for advancement of government services, strengthening of national cyber security and expansion of digital public infrastructures would be forwarded effectively through Nepal Digital Transformation.

Stating that rapid development in information and communications sector has been making positive impacts in economic, social and educational sectors, the Minister vowed achievement of targeted goals by completing all programmes of the upcoming fiscal year in time.