Nepal's Infrastructure Minister to Gain Power to Appoint 22 Advisers

A proposal drafted by Nepal's Ministry of Infrastructure Development would allow the Infrastructure Minister to appoint 22 advisers covering fields such as artificial intelligence, sanitary engineering, climate change and gender equality. The plan also permits up to 39 secretariat members, including senior expert advisers at secretary and joint‑secretary rank, four under‑secretary advisers for roads, bridges, buildings and housing, and 16 section‑officer advisers for technical and administrative specialties.

The proposal has been sent to the Office of the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers and will take effect once the cabinet approves it. Ministry spokesperson Ramhari Pokharel said the organization and management survey is complete and the ministry seeks approval for 198 staff positions, with 102 staff allocated to the Administration Division. The Ministry of Infrastructure Development was formed by merging the former ministries of Physical Infrastructure and Transport, Urban Development and Water Supply, and the restructuring reduces secretary‑level engineering posts from three to one.