Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ has said that his government will make necessary arrangements to grant voting rights to Nepali citizens living abroad. Over 6,50,000 Nepalis have migrated overseas in 2021 seeking employment, the country’s Department of Foreign Employment said.
“Arrangements will be made to allow Nepalis living abroad to cast their votes,” Prime Minister Prachanda said while addressing a virtual event of the CPN (Maoist Centre) Migration Coordination Committee on Friday.
He said lakhs of migrant Nepalis will benefit from this move and enable them to exercise their franchise, My Republica newspaper reported. The Prime Minister said remittances sent by Nepalis living abroad have boosted the country’s foreign exchange reserves. According to Nepal government estimates, remittances account for about a quarter of the country’s national income.
Over the past few years, migration and remittances have played a significant role in the socio-economic development of Nepal. In 2021, Nepal received NPR 961.05 billion as remittances, constituting over 22 per cent of the country’s GDP.
“The fact that the remittances received from foreign nationals have reached the level of 11 months of foreign exchange reserves is itself a sign of economic improvement,” he added.
Nepal’s gross foreign exchange reserves rose by an impressive 10 per cent to touch USD 10.50 billion in mid-February, boosted mainly by remittances from abroad, Nepal’s central bank said last month.
As per the release from the Office of the President, Dahal inducted Nepali Congress leader Narayan Prasad Saud as Foreign Minister while Nanda Chapai got the portfolio of state minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport. Both the ministers were administered oath to post and secrecy amid a ceremony at Presidential Palace in Kathmandu.
Earlier on 31st March, Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda had reshuffled the cabinet after weeks of hiatus when he was only able to induct 11 ministers which included a state minister.
Intra-party rift of the Nepali Congress has been blamed for the delay in the expansion of the cabinet as 10 parties are on board the coalition presenting their own demands. In four months since formation, Nepal Prime Minister Prachanda has undergone two rounds of vote of confidence and 8 cabinet reshuffles, yet failed to fill all the ministries.
Supported by 10 parties in the March 20 vote of confidence who have come on board the ruling coalition, Dahal on Friday managed to take 5 parties on board.