Kathmandu, Feb. 5 : Minister of State for Information and Communications Govinda Bahadur Shaha inaugurating the first convention of “Press Chautari” here today said press sector, the heart of democracy, should guide the nation and democracy along the right direction.

Noting that the present government is aware of press freedom, mr. shaha disclosed that the government will in the near future establish Nepal Transmission Authority, formulate policies relating to frequency management, constitute Film Development Board and Postal Development Board, bring radical changes in the structure of the Department of Information and hook up Nepal television to the satellite.

Referring to the recent constitution of a task force in order to resolve problems facing the journalists, Minister of State Shaha said a package programme will be introduced and the bill on right to information will be presented in the forthcoming parliamentary session.

cpn-uml central Member and mp raghuji Pant said rights granted by the constitution should not be restricted and the state should extend adequate cooperation to the development of journalism.

Media advisor at the Ministry of Information and Communications Pursottam Dahal said the government has initiated steps towards formulating a long-term communications policy, formulating legislation regarding right to information, solve the problem faced by newspapers due to increase in postal tariff and hook up Nepal Television to the satellite.

Chairman of Nepal Press Council Harihar Birahi expressed the view that the state should give priority to the journalism sector and help to make it professional and self-reliant.

Director General of the Department of Information Yubaraj Pandey said the press sector which remains as the fourth estate can make an important contribution in the institutional development of democracy.

Media Advisor at Frederick Ebert Stiftung p. kharel spoke of the need for the government to formulate law on information, assist the private media and introduce a new communications policy.

Senior journalist Govinda Biyogi, president of Federation of Nepalese Journalists Suresh Acharya and other speakers also expressed their views at the function chaired by chairman of Press Chautari Bijaya Chalise.