Pokhara, Jan. 14 : A two-day regional seminar on “National Action Plan for Sustainable Development”, organised under the joint aegis of the National Planning Commission (NPC) and the World Conservation Union (IUCN)-Nepal, began here today.

The seminar will hold discussions on the success, challenges and problems encountered during the implementation of various developmental activities carried out in the region under the action plan and find out solutions for these problems.

The seminar will also make a mid-term assessment of the ninth five year plan as well as assist in the formulation of the concept and the base papers for the tenth five year plan.

Various development-related experts are expected to brief the seminar about the economic, social, environmental and the overall status of the Western Development Region and future challenges.

On the occasion, the participants will provide information on the different development related activities carried out by the local bodies, development-related offices and national and international agencies.

Altogether 70 persons including chairmen of various DDCs, mayors of different municipalities, chiefs of related offices and representatives of various institutions and organisations from the Western Development Region are attending the seminar.

At the inaugural session of the seminar, NPC member Dr. Jagdish Chandra Pokharel said that the conclusions drawn at various regional and national seminars in Nepal would be presented at the international seminar to be held in Bolivia, South America in February.

IUCN programme coordinator Dr. Badri Binod Pandey and Mayor of Pokhara Sub-Metropolitan City Krishna Thapa also expressed their views at the programme presided over by Parbat DDC chairman Ganesh Prasad Timilsina.