Mahabir Pun Urges Government to Utilize Rural Telecom Fund for Service Expansion

Kathmandu. Member of Parliament Mahabir Pun has drawn the government's attention to immediately mobilize the funds accumulated in the Rural Telecommunication Fund for the expansion of communication services in rural areas.

Speaking in a special time during the meeting of the House of Representatives on Tuesday, MP Pun stated that although billions of rupees are available in the fund, the government's inability to spend it has deprived rural citizens of communication facilities.

According to MP Pun, the Rural Telecommunication Fund under the Nepal Telecommunications Authority currently has approximately 16 billion rupees deposited. This fund has been collected since 2053 BS by deducting 2 percent of the amount paid by service recipients for using telephone services. Speaking at the meeting, he said, 'It is not that the government lacks the budget to provide internet and telephone services in the villages; it is just that it has not been able to spend the available money. Rather than just making demands in the house, it is necessary to pressure the Ministry of Communications and the Authority to mobilize the funds from that fund.'

Speaking during the special time, MP Pun also demanded the removal of the syndicate that has flourished due to the halt in the process of new taxi registrations in the Kathmandu Valley. He informed that approximately 7,500 taxis were registered in 2057 BS, and after the 2072 BS earthquake, an additional 1,500 taxis were added, bringing the total number of operational taxis to around 9,000.

His argument was that the failure to increase the number of taxis despite a significant increase in the population of Kathmandu over the past two decades has encouraged collusion and syndicates. Accusing the government of deliberately stopping new registrations, MP Pun strongly demanded that the government provide opportunities for citizens who wish to become self-employed by increasing the number of taxis.