Kathmandu— Nepal’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Shisir Khanal, announced plans to construct residential buildings for Nepali embassies and missions internationally, a move designed to reduce high rental costs and establish facilities that reflect Nepal's cultural characteristics. Responding to questions from lawmakers in the House of Representatives, Khanal detailed how the initiative would address financial burdens and improve representation abroad. The plan comes as the country spent Rs 1.03 billion on housing for its missions last fiscal year – approximately 17 percent of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ total budget.

High Rental Costs Drive Initiative

The impetus behind the construction projects is significant financial savings. Minister Khanal revealed that Nepal spent Rs 1.03 billion on housing for its missions abroad in the last fiscal year, representing a substantial portion of the Ministry’s overall budget. By building dedicated residential facilities, the government hopes to drastically reduce these rental expenses and allocate resources more effectively.

Land Acquired, Construction Delayed

While land has already been acquired in several key locations for embassy residences – including Islamabad, Riyadh, Colombo, Kuala Lumpur, Muscat, Canberra, and Beijing – construction has been stalled. Khanal explained that the delay stems from a lack of clear legal frameworks governing the construction of public buildings on foreign soil. To address this, a consultant has been appointed to develop architectural plans, engineering designs, and cost estimates specifically for the Nepali Embassy building in Canberra.

Repatriation of Remains

In addition to infrastructure development, Minister Khanal also informed lawmakers that the government had successfully repatriated the remains of 160 Nepalis who died while working abroad since the current administration took office. This highlights a commitment to supporting Nepali citizens employed in foreign countries and ensuring their dignified return home.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is now focused on establishing the necessary legal provisions to facilitate construction, with Canberra serving as the initial pilot project for this ambitious undertaking.

(With inputs from RN)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.