Gorakhapatra will be taken into PSP model: Communication Minister Gurung

Kathmandu: Minister for Communication and Information Technology, Prithvi Subba Gurung, has underlined the need to convert Gorakhapatra Corporation into public service publication (PSP) format.

Speaking at a function organised to mark the 125th anniversary of the publication of Gorakhapatra and the Corporation’s 63rd anniversary here today, Minister Gurung stressed the need of amending the outdated act to make Gorakhapatra in tune with the changed context.

Recalling that the Gorakhapatra had endured the difficulties since the time of the Rana regime to monarchy and the Panchayat system, he stressed the need for the Gorakhapatra publication house to disseminate content focusing on people in democracy and federal governance system in the changed context now.

On the occasion, Minister Gurung pledged that the ministry would complete the works of constructing a well-appointed building, bringing a new Act and  bye-laws for the management of employees as soon as possible as the corporation with such a great history needs its own building.

He said that the ministry has planned to construct the building of the Telecom Authority of Nepal, amend the Acts and laws of all the old institutions and bring ‘AI policy’ among others.

“The 5G Network will also be launched in the current year,” he added.

Chairman of Gorakhapatra Corporation Bishnu Prasad Subedi urged Minister Gurung to allocate budget for the construction of the Corporation’s building in the upcoming budget as the institution is direly in need of a well-equipped building.

General Manager Lal Bahadur Airi claimed that there was a difference in the selection of editorial contents to make the Gorakhapatra national vernacular daily timely. He added that along with news, inclusivity is also being given prominence in language and content selection.

Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) Chairperson Nirmala Sharma stressed on the need for cooperation and coordination among all to make the social media a dignified profession, stating that the misuse of social media has created distrust in the professional journalism in recent times.