Kantipur Media Group chair Kailash Sirohiya said a conscious society is built on accurate information, debate and dialogue, highlighting the need for sustained public engagement amid growing political and economic uncertainty.

Speaking at the opening of the fifth edition of the Kantipur Conclave in Kathmandu on Monday, Sirohiya said KMG has consistently promoted platforms for discussion on issues of national importance alongside its daily journalism.

“The distinctive feature of the Kantipur Conclave is that it brings national, regional and international concerns together on a single platform, with Nepal at the centre,” he said. “We believe there must be an inclusive public debate on shared concerns. Reaching the fifth edition reflects continuity, trust, participation and collaboration.”

Sirohiya said Nepal has long faced political instability, weak institutions, a crisis of trust and economic pressures, but added that new public awareness has also been emerging.

“Recent protests, dissatisfaction and civic voices are raising fresh questions for the state and political leadership about direction, method and leadership,” he said.

He noted that questions are being asked across society, from villages to cities, young people to senior citizens, and from the streets to digital platforms, but meaningful answers remain lacking. Rhetoric, slogans and attractive promises alone cannot address citizens’ aspirations.

“What Nepal needs today is a calm, fact-based, honest and outcome-oriented national dialogue,” Sirohiya said. “Our commitment is to make the Kantipur Conclave a meaningful platform for that purpose.”

He said the conclave is not merely a formal conference but a national initiative aimed at steering the country from uncertainty towards clarity and collective solutions. The forum will host open discussions on politics, governance, the economy, federal implementation, the impact of information and algorithms, changing forms of citizen voice, and regional and international geopolitics.

Sirohiya added that the two-day dialogue will aim to produce concrete conclusions on political stability, translating governance slogans into practice, reviving the economy and employment, and addressing citizens’ daily realities. It will also focus on restoring trust between the state and citizens, policy and practice, and promises and implementation.

Kantipur Conclave 2026 began on Monday in Kathmandu, bringing together political leaders, policymakers, intellectuals and experts from Nepal and abroad to discuss contemporary challenges and explore solutions for the country’s future.