Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba on Thursday said the country was pursuing economic and social transformation by institutionalising federal democratic republic. 

He expressed hope that the country would see sustainable political stability with an end to current political transition once all the three levels of elections—local, state and federal— concluded. 

"The new constitution is being enforced, helping institutionalise the republic. Local elections will be concluded after their third round is held on September 18, while election date for the state assembly and federal has already been set," he said, while addressing the two-day roundtable discussion on the government action for nutrition in the South Asia organised by the National Planning Commission (NPC) with the support of various development organisations, and the South Asia Food and Nutrition Security Initiative. 

The event is aimed at reviewing the situation of food security and nutrition in the region. A total of 116 representatives from various 16 countries in the region including Nepal have participated in the programme. 

Stating that Nepal had made significant achievements in reducing stunting among under-five children from 57 percent in 2001 to 36 percent in 2016, PM Deuba said yet stunting remained worryingly high. 

He pledged to further streamline and make the food and nutrition programme, aimed at girl child below five, students and women, more effective. 

The PM shared that Nepal had effectively implemented the Multi-Sector Nutrition Programme (2013-2017) and expressed his confidence that the second phase of such programme (2018-2022) would be brought into effect effectively. 

According to him, the government had attached priority to agendas such as sustainable agriculture development for poverty reduction, increase in the agricultural production, development of physical infrastructures and health reforms among others.