Kathmandu, Apr. 8 : A gathering of journalists in Kathmandu has constituted Aouth Aian Journalists Federation with senior journalist P. Kharel as advisor and chief editor of Janabhavana Nirodh Raj Panday as president with the objective of maintaining friendly relations among journalists, developing journalism and protecting and promoting the interests of the journalists of the seven countries.

Chief editor of Gorkha express Rajan Karki is the vice-president, chief editor of Nispaksha Weekly Ram Prasad Khanal the general secretary, chief correspondent of all India Radio and Doordarshan Ram Shagar Shukla the co-secretary and editor of daily Nepal Samacharpatra Kapil Kafle the treasurer of the federation.

Likewise, chief editor of X-Ray weekly Basanta Dhwoj Joshi, reporter of Radio Nepal Khagendra Nepal, reporter of Nepal Television Manohari Thapa, president of Samcharika Samuha Bandana Rana, chief reporter of RSS Chiranjivi Paudyal, freelance journalist Ishwari Wagle, chief editor of Janasangharsha daily Balkrishna Chapagai, and editor of Dawn published from Pakistan are the members of the federation.

Senior journalists Narendra Bilas Panday and Dr. Hari Sharma are advisors while Bangladesh, the Maldives, Bhutan and Sri Lanka will soon be represented in the federation.

The gathering has also decided to host a seminar concerning the situation of journalism in South Asia and other topical issues by inviting journalists and diplomats of all the seven countries.