KATHMANDU, Jan 18: The government has reiterated its commitment to strictly enforce government advertisement rates, vowing full implementation of the decision taken on November 24 that makes it mandatory for media houses to issue bills for advertisements published or broadcast.
Finance Minister Rameshwar Khanal made the commitment while receiving a memorandum from a delegation of Nepal Republic Media Limited led by Chairperson Shova Gyawali. He said the government would ensure that funds released for advertisements reach media houses directly, without intermediaries.
Minister Khanal said the finance ministry would issue circulars to all subordinate agencies, instructing them to adhere to minimum rate standards for government advertisements.
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Managing Director of Nepal Republic Media Samridhi Gyawali informed the minister that although the government releases around Rs 5 billion annually for advertisements, only about Rs 2 billion actually reaches the media sector. She urged the finance minister to investigate the whereabouts of the remaining funds and take appropriate policy measures.
Describing the discrepancy of nearly Rs 3 billion as “unnatural,” she said, “Either the full amount should reach media houses or the government should divert the funds to development and infrastructure projects.”
Gyawali said Nepal Republic Media has been publishing government advertisements at a minimum rate of Rs 318 per column and stressed the need for all media houses to unite in enforcing standard rates. She also drew attention to growing manipulation by middlemen, noting that such practices have intensified even after the mandatory billing requirement was introduced.
Nepal Republic Media has been pressing for the implementation of the November 24 decision in recent days and has reaffirmed its commitment to publishing government advertisements strictly at the minimum prescribed rate.
