Kathmandu — Leader of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) Shishir Khanal has said the party will introduce an election manifesto centered on employment generation and middle-class families in the upcoming elections.
Speaking at a discussion titled “Economic Agenda in Party Manifestos” organized by the Nepal Economic Journalists Association (NAFIJ), Khanal said employment has emerged as the main demand following the Gen Z movement and that the party will prioritize the issue.
He said RSP plans to draft laws that make it easier for the private sector to operate in order to create jobs. Expressing faith in a liberal economic system, Khanal said the party has incorporated the principle of social justice within that framework.
Economic Priorities and Development Focus
Khanal said the development of the tourism sector requires improved connectivity. He added that the party will prioritize technology and hydropower to drive economic growth, stating, “We have set a goal to become a respectable middle-income country within the next 10 years.”
He also said reforms in public education and healthcare are necessary to address the needs of middle-class families. Stressing that the economy cannot be strengthened without good governance, Khanal called for an end to interference in regulatory bodies and urged transparency in appointments.
Governance, Infrastructure, and Political Stability
Highlighting the need for large-scale investment in infrastructure, he said focused investment is essential. He added that the party has set a target of producing 30,000 megawatts of electricity within the next decade. Khanal also said an environment can be created to encourage Nepalis living abroad to invest in Nepal.
Khanal said that for a party’s manifesto to be implemented, a single party must secure a parliamentary majority. “Since laws are enacted according to the government’s priorities, manifesto implementation is only possible when one party has a clear majority. When five or six parties form a government and the government remains unstable, the manifesto cannot be implemented,” he said.
