Minister for Communications and Information Technology Gokul Banskota has said that the internet cost will be gradually lessened even though the internet service cost was cheaper here in comparison to other countries.

While responding to the queries from lawmakers during deliberations on the appropriation bill under the CIT Ministry on Tuesday, Minister Banskota opined for developing telecommunication infrastructures for quality service.

Minister Banskota also shared that the Ministry was ready to provide information even during an emergency.

Government was committed to ensuring job opportunities to the IT students, Banskota said. On another note, he clarified that the government will not exempt NCell from the due tax payment.

He also stressed on developing and reaching quality telecom services to every nook and corner of the country.

Minister Basnet said that the government was preparing to add 738 telecom towers in the country. Minister Banskota further shared that the Ministry was providing public welfare advertisement to the media houses, based on an evaluation process that is impartial and neutral.

He also claimed that the fund allocated for advertisement will not be misused adding that the practice of providing advertisement to electronic media was in place since long which could not be discontinued.

Banskota said the government will give due consideration to the recommendation made by the minimum wage determination committee for the wage, insurance and other facilities for the working journalists. He expressed the commitment to enforce clean feed in the Nepali media.

The CIT Minister also expressed the confidence that there would be free WIFI zones available across the country after mobile application is developed for the same.

Every province shall have a 'smart school' with the establishment of computer labs in 500 schools in the current fiscal year. "The government has plans to provide digital education with a focus on the youth.

He also made it clear that additional budget has been provided for running inclusive language programmes through the state-run radio Nepal.

Minister Banskota also made it clear that the government does not have a policy to intervene in public media.

During the deliberations, 21 MPs had put forth questions to the CIT Minister. RSS