Newly-appointed Foreign Minister NP (Narayan Prasad) Saud took the oath of office and secrecy on Sunday.

President Ram Chandra Poudel administered the oath to Saud amid a ceremony at Shital Niwas.

Saud, a Nepali Congress lawmaker elected from Kanchanpur constituency-2, was appointed minister by Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Saturday.

Saud, a leader close to Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba, is the fifth minister from the party to be inducted in the Dahal-led Cabinet. He earlier served as Irrigation Minister.

After assuming office, Saud said that Nepal will maintain cordial and peaceful relations with all its neighbours.

Likewise, Nanda Chapai, a member of the National Assembly from CPN (United Socialist) party, has been appointed Minister of State for Physical Infrastructure and Transport. The party’s Prakash Jwala is the minister heading the ministry.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal administered the oath of office and secrecy to Chapai on Sunday.