The government has appointed Govinda Bahadur Karki as the new chief secretary.

Following a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, government spokesperson Sasmit Pokharel announced that Karki, who was serving as secretary at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, has been promoted to the highest position in Nepal’s civil service.

The appointment comes as incumbent chief secretary Suman Raj Aryal is set to retire on July 9 after reaching the mandatory retirement age of 58.

Karki previously oversaw governance affairs at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers.