KATHMANDU, March 22: In the midst of parliamentary inactivity with bills pending discussion and budgetary matters unaddressed, a 10-member delegation led by Speaker Devraj Ghimire has departed for Geneva, Switzerland. This team is attending the 148th General Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) from March 23 to March 27.

Following the departure of Speaker Ghimire's delegation, sessions of the House of Representatives have been adjourned for 10 days. Assistant Spokesperson for the Federal Parliament Secretariat, Dashrath Dhamala, confirmed that the team embarked on their journey via a Qatar Airlines flight.

The delegation includes Padma Prasad Pandey, the General Secretary of the Federal Parliament Secretariat; Ekram Giri, Joint Secretary and Spokesperson; Under Secretary Pradeep Guragain; and Tejprakash Bhattarai, the Chief Personal Secretary to the Speaker.

Representatives from various political parties are also part of the delegation: Ramesh Lekhak, Chief Whip of the Nepali Congress Parliamentary Party; Mahesh Kumar Bartaula, Chief Whip of UML; Hitraj Pandey, Chief Whip of the Maoist Center; and Santosh Pariyar, Chief Whip of the Rastriya Swatantra Party. Additionally, Ganga Kumari Belbase, a member of the National Assembly, is included in the team.

During the assembly, Speaker Ghimire is expected to deliver a statement on parliamentary diplomacy, focusing on fostering peace and understanding. The Secretary General of the Federal Parliament will also participate in various meetings of the organization, according to Assistant Spokesperson Dhamala.