KATHMANDU Aug 13: The Parliamentary Hearing Committee (PHC) is initiating the hearing process for ambassadors recommended by the government for appointment in 18 different countries today.

The 33rd meeting of the Parliamentary Hearing Committee has been scheduled for 12:15 PM at Shankar Hall of the Federal Parliament Building in New Baneshwar to review the proposed ambassadors.

During the meeting, the PHC will consider any complaints against the nominees.

Following the discussion of these complaints, a date for the final hearing of the ambassadors will be set.

On July 30, the government recommended 18 ambassadors for various countries.

Among them, CPN-UML Standing Committee member and former Deputy Speaker Shiva Maya Tumbahamphe has been proposed as ambassador to South Korea.

Additionally, Dr  Shankar Sharma, who has been recommended as ambassador to India, will also be reviewed.

Other key recommendations include former Chief Secretary Lokdarshan Regmi and former Secretary Chandra Ghimire as the ambassadors to the US and the UK resp, Krishna Prasad Oli for China, and Dr Netra Prasad Timsina for Malaysia. Naresh Bikram Dhakal has been recommended for Saudi Arabia, while Dhan Prasad Pandit has been proposed for Israel and Kapil Shrestha for South Africa.

Additional nominees include Dr Shail Rupakheti for Germany, Kanta Rijal for Australia, and Sanil Nepal for Spain. Ramakrishna Bhattarai has been recommended for Sri Lanka, Prakash Mani Paudel for Portugal, Rita Dhital for Pakistan, Sumnima Tuladhar for Denmark, and Jangab Chauhan for Russia.

The list of these 18 proposed ambassadors was submitted to the committee for hearing on Sunday.

The final appointments will be made by the President following approval from the PHC.