न्यूज अभियान
हरेक खबर विशेष खबर

Kathmandu, Aug 19: Minister for Information and Communications Dr Bikram Timilsina has signed a performance contract with Prime Minister Balendra Shah for the fiscal year 2083/84 BS. 
The performance contract was signed to make the major duties and achievements to be carried out in the current fiscal year through the ministry and its subordinate agencies result-oriented along with a timeline. 
At a programme held on Wednesday at the Office of Prime Minister and Council of Ministers in Singha Durbar, Prime Minister Shah and Communications Minister Dr Timilsina signed the performance contract and exchanged the copies. 
It is stated that the contract agreement was made in line with the Nepal Government (Work Division) Regulations, 2083 to effectively execute the stated annual policy and programmes and budget of fiscal year 2083/84, towards attaining the expected results in the set time, cost, and quality. 
The agreement links the Ministry of Information and Communications' scope of work, periodic plans, government policies and programmes, and programmes mentioned in the budget statement with clear outcome indicators and milestones. 
The agreement stipulates that the milestones set must be achieved within the specified timeframe, the PM office noted. 
The government has placed priority to a system that evaluates ministerial performance based on measurable results and achievements.
The Ministry has set a goal to make the current fiscal year an important year for the development, expansion, and transformation of the communication sector. 
The performance contract prioritizes promoting good governance, improving public service delivery, expanding communication infrastructure, increasing access to digital technology, enhancing the quality of telecom and information technology services, expanding national access to communication services, and improving the administrative and financial performance of the ministry and its affiliated bodies. 
The expansion of physical and digital infrastructure in the information and communication sector has been considered an important indicator. 
According to the agreement, the target for this fiscal year is to accelerate the expansion of optical fiber by an additional 1,000 kilometers and expand up to 12-core optical fiber by another 6,500 kilometers. 
Expanding access to fixed broadband services, increasing mobile broadband access, and making telecom infrastructure more organized and high-quality are also included as key indicators in the performance agreement.
The agreement has also prioritized expanding access to modern telecommunications services across the country. 
Goals have been set to extend 4G service coverage, increase telephone service users, and further expand access to mobile broadband. 
The government aims to connect citizens in rural and remote areas to quality communication services through the expansion of digital technology-based services. 
The performance agreement also aims to expand access to traditional media by linking it with digital platforms. The national reach of Radio Nepal and Nepal Television through digital platforms is also prioritized. The government has set a goal to make postal services modern and effective. Expanding the operation of express postal services has been included as a key result indicator in the performance agreement. Similarly, the performance agreement also gives priority to the ministry’s financial discipline and public accountability.
Similarly, a target has been set to investigate 100% of the complaints received to address citizens' grievances and improve service delivery. 
The performance contract gives the ministry clear responsibilities and target regarding functions and results to achieve in the current fiscal year. 
After the performance agreement between the Prime Minister and the Minister of Communications, now a performance contract will also be made between the Minister and the Secretary of the Ministry of Information and Communications.