Finally, one of the demands that we at Khoj Samachar have been raising for a long time has been fulfilled. For that, we would like to sincerely thank the Balen Government.
Even before the election, we repeatedly argued that people like Mahabir Pun deserved not only a seat in Parliament but also an opportunity to serve the country in a leadership role. We believed that Nepal needed capable individuals in positions where they could directly influence national policy and long-term development.
That is why, before the election, we openly campaigned for Mahabir Pun to win from Myagdi-1. We believed that his experience, vision and years of contribution to science and innovation could benefit the country far beyond his individual projects.
Mahabir Pun Should Win from Myagdi-1 – Our Earlier Video
The people listened, and Mahabir Pun was elected from Myagdi-1.
But our voice did not stop there.
After the election, we raised another issue. Even though the RSP had won a large number of seats on its own, we believed Mahabir Pun should still be brought into government. Competence and capability should matter more than political calculations.
We openly argued that if Nepal was serious about science, technology, research and innovation, then it made little sense to keep one of the country’s most respected innovators outside the decision-making process.
Our Facebook video calling for Mahabir Pun to be appointed minister can be seen here.
When we spoke about this issue, some RSP supporters criticized us. Their argument was simple: “We already have enough elected MPs. Why bring in an outsider?”
However, we continued to argue that appointments should be based on merit. The goal of any government should not simply be to reward political insiders but to place the most capable people in positions where they can deliver results for the country.
The Question We Continued To Raise
As months passed and Mahabir Pun still had not been appointed minister, we repeatedly asked a simple question: if science, technology and innovation are truly national priorities, then why has Mahabir Pun not been given responsibility?
That question became even more relevant as the government continued to speak about modernization, digital transformation and economic development. We believed these goals required leadership from people who had already demonstrated success in those areas.
Our video questioning why Mahabir Pun had not been appointed minister can be viewed here.
We later expanded this discussion through articles and analysis, explaining why merit-based appointments matter and why Mahabir Pun deserved serious consideration.
The Separate Ministry We Asked For
We also raised another important issue: Nepal needed a separate Ministry of Science and Innovation.
For years, science, research and innovation have received far less attention than they deserve. We believed that if Nepal truly wanted to make a leap in research, innovation and technology, then this sector required dedicated leadership, dedicated resources and dedicated policy direction.
That is why we repeatedly argued that science and innovation should not remain buried inside larger ministries. It needed its own institution capable of focusing entirely on the country’s future.
Eventually, the government created it.
Today, Mahabir Pun has finally been appointed Minister of Science and Innovation.
Among the many decisions made since the formation of the Balen Government, we believe this is one of the most important and forward-looking decisions for Nepal.
Why This Decision Matters
This decision is not only about appointing Mahabir Pun. The government has also allocated the resources needed for the ministry to function effectively.
In the federal budget for Fiscal Year 2083/84, the government announced that one percent of total capital expenditure will be allocated to science, technology, research and innovation.
That amounts to approximately NPR 4.31 billion.
This is likely the first time in Nepal’s history that research, science and innovation have received both a dedicated ministry and a significant budget commitment.
As a result, Nepal now has a genuine opportunity to move forward in research, innovation, science and technology. The path has been opened for developing many of the products, technologies and solutions that Nepalis need within Nepal itself.
Rather than constantly depending on foreign countries for knowledge, technology and innovation, Nepal now has an opportunity to strengthen its own capacity and invest in homegrown solutions.
We are optimistic that under Mahabir Pun’s leadership, this ministry can achieve things that many Nepalis have never imagined over the next five years.
This Was Never About Taking Credit
The people of Nepal helped elect Mahabir Pun. Citizens helped keep these ideas alive in public discussion. The government ultimately made the decision.
We simply tried to do our part by raising questions, encouraging debate and keeping these issues in the public conversation.
The credit for this moment does not belong to any one person, organization or media outlet. However, we are happy that the issues we consistently discussed eventually became part of the national conversation.
Now it is Mahabir Pun’s turn.
He now has a dedicated ministry and billions of rupees in budget support for the next five years.
We hope he delivers results that make the entire country proud.
We hope he writes a new chapter for Nepal in science, technology, research and innovation. We hope he helps reduce Nepal’s unnecessary dependence on other countries by building solutions at home.
Mahabir Pun has long enjoyed public trust. Now he has been given the opportunity to transform that trust into lasting national achievements.
We wish Mahabir Pun every success in his tenure.
And we would also like to thank every reader, viewer and supporter who has helped keep this issue alive through social media, videos, articles and public discussion.
A New Campaign Begins
Today, however, we are also beginning a new campaign.
This time, our focus is the Ministry of Labour.
Just as the Ministry of Science and Innovation is important for Nepal’s future, the Ministry of Labour is equally important for Nepal’s present.
Whether we are talking about Nepal’s economy or the livelihoods of 60–70 percent of Nepali families, foreign employment remains at the center of the discussion.
Every year, millions of Nepalis leave their homes and families in search of work abroad. The money they send back keeps the economy moving and supports countless households across the country.
If remittance flows suddenly stopped, Nepal’s economy would face a severe crisis, and millions of families would suffer.
Yet the very people carrying one of the largest economic burdens of the nation continue to face some of the greatest injustice.
A System Filled With Problems
Every day, Nepalis are cheated in the name of foreign employment.
Some are cheated by manpower agencies. Others are cheated even while purchasing airline tickets.
Complaints often go unheard. In some cases, arrest warrants have already been issued against fraudsters, yet they are still not arrested.
Foreign employment remains one of the sectors where ordinary citizens suffer the most and where corruption continues to thrive.
Unfortunately, the ministry responsible for this sector has not yet found the leadership it needs.
When the government was formed, Labour Minister Deepak Kumar Shah was removed from office after just 14 days. Read more here.
He was replaced by Ramji Yadav.
Two months have now passed, but the results remain close to zero.
From the public’s perspective, there has been little visible change.
A few manpower companies were raided, but beyond that, meaningful reform remains difficult to see.
For any government to succeed, strong ministers are just as important as a strong prime minister. A country cannot move forward at full speed if only one person in government is producing results.
Why We Support Shom Sharma
That is why we believe the Balen Government should appoint Shom Sharma, the elected MP from Baglung, as Labour Minister.
We have raised this issue before as well. Read our earlier campaign article here.
Shom Sharma has spent years working on issues related to foreign employment. He understands the fraud, the suffering and the challenges faced by migrant workers and their families.
Unlike many politicians who only discuss these issues after entering office, he has been involved in these conversations for years and understands the realities on the ground.
We hope that just as citizens supported the campaign to elect Mahabir Pun, appoint him minister and establish a dedicated science ministry, they will also support this campaign.
If enough people raise their voices together, we believe it is possible to establish stronger leadership at the Ministry of Labour as well.
Because the future, safety and dignity of millions of Nepalis working abroad is not the concern of one individual. It is a national concern.
And that is why this campaign begins today.
