KATHMANDU: The Prime Minister’s Disaster Relief Fund has collected over Rs 18.39 billion. Spokesperson for the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, Hemraj Aryal, stated on Friday that as of 9 a.m., the total amount deposited in the fund reached Rs 18,397,045,216.

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister has directed security agencies to enhance coordination, intelligence sharing, and collaboration to strengthen national security. Officials were instructed to ensure the safety of citizens and adopt a zero-tolerance policy against crime. During a meeting with Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, the Prime Minister expressed gratitude for the relief materials provided by India following the recent floods and landslides.

The first quarterly progress review of the current fiscal year and the ministerial-level development problem resolution committee meeting also commenced on Friday. Among the complaints received by the Prime Minister’s Office regarding corruption, 21 cases have been forwarded to relevant agencies for investigation. Authorities have also decided to intensify market monitoring to curb consumer fraud and artificial shortages. Ministries have been directed to promote domestic products in public procurement and digitize government decision-making processes.

To bolster cybersecurity, the government has made SSL and TLS certificates mandatory for all official websites. Regarding infrastructure development, the Arun III Hydropower Project has reached over 77 percent physical progress, while power transmission line construction stands at over 60 percent. The Upper Karnali Hydropower Project is now set to be completed within four years following the receipt of financial management documents. Additionally, the Public Procurement Monitoring Office launched the second version of the e-GP system on Nov. 2.