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Image: ChatGPT/Concept: LB Thpaa  Need to drive mindfully By LB Thapa The government is preparing to adopt a tough stance against reckless driving and violations of traffic regulations. It is drafting a new law that proposes significantly higher penalties, with fines of up to Rs. 50,000 for certain traffic offenses. Under the proposal put forward by the Ministry of Infrastructure Development, motorists found driving under the influence of intoxicants could face fines of up to Rs. 50,000. Depending on the severity of the offense, traffic violators may be fined anywhere between Rs. 500 and Rs. 100,000. The proposed legislation also prescribes penalties for a wide range of offenses, including speeding, driving excessively slowly, improper lane discipline, and failing to carry a valid driving license. Under the existing Transport Management Act, 2049 (1993), the penalty for driving under the influence of intoxicants ranges from Rs. 500 to Rs. 1,500. But the new proposal would increas...

Photo: Mehmet Turgut Kirkgoz NEPAL’S ECONOMY Unlocking the nation’s vast potential   By LB Thapa , MA (Economics) Bhopal University, India Nepal is a country blessed with abundant natural resources, a hardworking population, and a strategic location between two of the world’s largest economies: India and China. Despite these advantages, Nepal has lagged far behind many Southeast Asian nations in terms of economic growth and industrial development. Countries such as Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam have transformed their economies through industrialization, export promotion, tourism development, and foreign investment. These nations have achieved remarkable economic progress over the last few decades. However, Nepal continues to struggle with slow industrial growth, inadequate infrastructure, political instability, unemployment, and heavy dependence on imports. Nevertheless, Nepal still possesses enormous economic potential. If the country manages its water resour...

NEPAL’S ECONOMY Challenges, opportunities, and the way forward By LB Thapa , MA. (Economics) Bhopal University, India Nepal is currently facing many economic and financial challenges. Although the country has made progress in infrastructure development, access to education, and communication facilities over the past few decades, the overall economic situation remains fragile. Economic growth has been slower than expected, investment levels remain low, and the country continues to depend heavily on remittances sent by Nepali workers employed abroad. At the same time, rising inflation, increasing unemployment, and declining industrial productivity have created serious concerns for both policymakers and ordinary citizens. The new government therefore faces the difficult task of stabilizing the economy while ensuring long-term and sustainable development. Inflation has become a serious issue that the country is facing today. The prices of essential goods and services have increased signi...

Image: ChatGPT/Concept: LB Thapa  Why Panmasala, Pan, Tobacco, Jarda, and Gutka should be banned in Nepal! By LB Thapa Panmasala, pan, tobacco, jarda, and gutka are widely consumed products in many South Asian countries, including Nepal and India. Although some people consider them a part of their daily habit or cultural tradition, the harmful effects of these substances on public health and the environment cannot be ignored. The growing consumption of these products has become a serious concern because they not only damage human health but also contribute to poor sanitation and public nuisance. Considering their harmful consequences, Nepal should seriously consider banning panmasala, pan, tobacco, jarda, and gutka. One of the strongest reasons for banning these products is their devastating impact on human health. Most gutka, jarda, and tobacco products contain nicotine and numerous harmful chemicals that are highly addictive. Once people become addicted, it becomes extremely di...

Image: ChatGPT/Concept: LB Thapa Ba’s Pension, a short story By  LB Thapa This story takes us back to a time when the world seemed to stop without warning. The relentless coronavirus continued its rampage, casting a shadow of fear across the globe. No one felt beyond its reach, and people everywhere were forced to live in constant anxiety, doubt, and uncertainty.   Bhim Bahadur’s family lives in downtown Pokhara, and they too are not spared from the looming threat. Under government orders, they remain confined by lockdown, and with each passing day, life grows harder.   Bhim Bahadur, a retired Indian Army pensioner, had turned seventy just two months earlier. Yet no one in the family cared enough to celebrate his birthday—or even to wish him well.   Bhim Bahadur lives with his son. About five years ago, his wife, Kanchhi Maya, fell gravely ill and passed away. Her death shattered him, leaving him broken and adrift in grief. After she was gone, there was no on...

Image:ChatGPT/Concept:LB Thapa   The cool air By Chhabi Subedi In the beautiful town of Pokhara, nestled beside the serene Phewa Lake and surrounded by majestic mountains, lived an elderly widow named Dropati and her only son, Ramesh. Life had not always been easy for them, but they shared a bond stronger than any hardship.   When Ramesh was a child, his father passed away unexpectedly. From that day onward, Dropati devoted her entire life to raising her son. She worked tirelessly, sometimes sewing clothes for neighbors, sometimes helping in small farms, and sometimes selling vegetables in the local market. Every sacrifice she made had only one purpose—to give Ramesh a better future.   Years passed, and Ramesh grew into a hardworking and respectful young man. He completed his studies and found a decent job in Pokhara. The small family lived happily in their modest house. Every evening, mother and son would sit together on the veranda, sharing tea and stories while...

Image: ChatGPT/Concept: LB Thapa   Why Karate training is necessary for our Mannias By LB Thapa Parliament is often described as the temple of democracy. It is the place where elected representatives debate national issues, draft laws, hold governments accountable, and give voice to the concerns of citizens. In theory, Parliament is where ideas clash, arguments compete, and policies are refined through reason and discussion. Citizens expect their representatives to use words, logic, and persuasion. After all, if every disagreement could be settled by shouting, pushing, and waving fists, there would be little need for microphones, parliamentary rules, or expensive parliamentary buildings.   Unfortunately, democratic theory and political reality occasionally decide to live in different neighborhoods.   Around the world, parliamentary brawls are not entirely unknown. Legislatures in several democratic countries have witnessed scenes that looked less like lawmaking and more l...

Photos: LB Thapa Want to collect your renewed driving license? Be prepared to stand in a queue for hours! By LB Thapa To make a long story short, my driving licence expired in 2025. As usual, I went to the Department of Transport Management in Kaski with the receipt required to collect my renewed licence. The last time I renewed my licence, I had to wait almost four years before receiving it. Ironically, by the time I finally got the renewed licence, it was due for renewal again the following year. Recently, however, I read in several newspapers that the government had committed itself to clearing the backlog of pending licence printing as quickly as possible. Encouraged by this news, I arrived at the Transport Management Office in Kaski at around 10 a.m. To my astonishment, I found an enormous queue stretching from the licence distribution window all the way to the main road—far beyond the office premises. To be honest, the sight of such a long queue was intimidating. Standing for h...