National Planning Commission Vice Chairman Calls for Immediate Improvement in Public Service Delivery

Kathmandu. Vice Chairman of the National Planning Commission, Dr. Prakash Kumar Shrestha, stated that immediate improvement in public service delivery is necessary, emphasizing that the government must focus on addressing problems seen in basic services connected to daily life. He pointed out that service recipients are suffering due to long queues, cumbersome procedures, and lack of management in services such as driving licenses, passports, and national identity cards.

According to him, the government should focus on improving basic public services rather than talking about big issues. He mentioned that the government's failure to pay attention to public service improvement over the years is increasing public dissatisfaction.

Shrestha also pointed to the business sector, stating that the excessive closeness between politics and business is spreading a negative message. He said that the tendency to run businesses based on political lobbying and influence must end.

Vice Chairman Shrestha said, 'Public service delivery needs improvement. Big things are being discussed, and they might need to be fulfilled, but we are currently unable to improve general public service delivery. For instance, if we look at driving licenses, passports, and national identity cards, there are long queues there. The government's attention has not reached there. It seems the government is unable to work due to some legal complexities. As a result, public dissatisfaction is arising because public service delivery is not smooth.'

He further added, 'The excessive connection between businesspeople and politics is also spreading a negative message. We are failing to create innovation in business. Dissatisfaction among people has peaked due to conducting business through excessive political lobbying. It is necessary for businesspeople to become professional and focus on innovation.'

He stated that the media sector also needs to be much more responsible by learning lessons from September 9 and 10 (Bhadra 23 and 24). According to Shrestha, the media is also responsible for much of the current dissatisfaction. Shrestha said that the media is creating a narrative as if nothing is happening in Nepal. –News Agency Nepal