Kathmandu, June 29: His Majesty King Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah dev addressed the joint sitting of both the Houses of parliament Friday unveiling annual policies and programmes of the government for the fiscal year 2001/2002.

In his address to parliament, His Majesty King Gyanendra stressed the need for improving law and order, strengthening security-related agencies, controlling corruption and alleviating poverty. His Majesty the King said that His Majesty’s Government would effectively implement the integrated security and development programme in order to ensure security and development in the areas affected by violence.

He also called for Maoist insurgents to denounce violence and come to democratic mainstream.
”In order to make poverty alleviation programme more effective, my government would create Poverty Alleviation Fund through which all programmes for poverty alleviation would be launched”, King Gyanendra said. He said that the government would link five more districts with road transport and distribute voter identity cards to people in all districts.

The government would make necessary arrangement to open Royal Nepalese Embassy in Denmark in the next fiscal year. The King said. The king also expressed his commitment to uphold multi-party democracy and constitutional monarchy. This is the first time King Gyanendra addressed the parliament.