IT bill to be passed soon: Minister Banskota; CAN InfoTech kicks off

Kathmandu / Feb 14: Minister for Communications and Information Technology Gokul Banskota has said that the Information Technology Bill will be endorsed by the federal parliament soon.

Inaugurating the 26th edition of the CAN InfoTech organized by the Computer Association Nepal (CAN) Federation here in the capital city today, Minister Banskota shared that the bill would be passed after revising some provisions.

He made it clear that the bill was brought to maintain good governance, transparency and legitimacy of digital transaction. The bill would help control misuse of digital activities and crimes to be originated via it, the Minister asserted.

Minister Banskota, also the spokesperson of the government, clarified that the bill was not only related to individual rights as it was designed to make a digital Nepal. “The interpretation some people made on bill was however not factual as it remained biased”, he said.

Minister urged everyone to follow fact not rumour. He hinted at lessening fine mentioned in the bill. He said that the government was making huge investment to materialize the campaign of digital

Nepal by reaching internet facilities to the nook and corner of the country.

Similarly, Vice Chair at the National Planning Commission, Dr Pushpa Raj Kandel, said the NPC was prioritizing the development of IT sectors. He shared that the Commission was accepting the

Digital Nepal action as a revolutionary 15th programme of the NPC.

On the occasion, Director General at Department of Information Technology, Prem Sharan Shrestha, said the IT could be utilized for country’s economic development, and smooth and effective public service delivery.

Chairperson of Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA), Purushottam Khanal, informed that internet was expanded in more than 60 percent geography of the country, and 4G service would begin within this year.

Chairman of CAN Federation, Nawaraj Kunwar, viewed that the CAN fair was organized to make the national and international publicity of new issues surrounding the IT.

CAN InfoTech kicks off

The CAN InfoTech 2020 in association with World Link kicked off at Bhrikutimandap, Kathmandu, on Friday. The Federation and various other stakeholders on IT have organized the IT fair, which will run for six days.

There are 186 commercial stalls, according to CAN Federation General Secretary, Narayan Thapa. It is expected that some half million people will visit the fair.