A Cabinet meeting of Province 1 government has appointed human rights activist Subodh Raj Pyakurel as the vice-chairman of Provincial Planning Commission.  

Minister for Internal Affairs and Law Hikmat Kumar Karki, also the government’s spokesperson, said that the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday decided to appoint Pyakurel as the commission’s vice-chairman and Mina Bhandari and Purna Laxam as members.

Pyakurel is also the central chairman of Informal Sector Service Centre, a non-government organisation for human rights and social justice.

According to Minister Karki, there will be five members in the commission whose responsibility is to come up with various development plans and implement them.

Two other members of the commission will be appointed shortly, he added.

The commission’s vice-chairman is provided perk and other facilities on a par with state minister. The members will receive facilities equivalent to assistant ministers. The Cabinet meeting also approved the public expenditure standard and austerity directive, internal regulation procedures of the province, Koshi Erosion Control Project and the plan to develop Tehrathum and Phidim, the two cities along the Mid-Hill Highway.