OWSA Contributor

ILO’s Nepal country director Numan Özcan says that with evidence-based planning, increased investment, and inclusive social dialogue, the country can turn a potential setback into a catalyst for sustainable, job-rich development.

Independent observers note that without accountability, the culture of impunity will only deepen. Families continue to lose loved ones in suspicious circumstances, while officers operate with an apparent licence to kill.

As families search for loved ones and casualty verification continues, the incident risks further destabilising an already volatile region. Diplomats and rights monitors are watching closely, with calls mounting for de-escalation and dialogue.

The report stresses the need for drastic improvements in the public procurement system. Recommendations include establishing clearer bid evaluation criteria, strictly screening abnormally low bids that often lead to abandoned contracts, and enhancing the government’s e-procurement system.

As the NCHR report concludes, comprehensive judicial reform and a shift from punishment to rehabilitation are essential.

The transition will require careful policy planning to ensure that the gains achieved over decades are not undermined by sudden changes in trade and development frameworks.

The responses underscore the broader humanitarian crisis emerging from the clashes. As rescue teams work through the night and casualty numbers potentially climb, the focus remains on the human cost.

Despite the escalating emergency, the Taliban administration has continually sought to project an image of economic stability. Yet, the stark realities on the ground – shuttered trade routes, skyrocketing grocery bills, and overcrowded malnutrition clinics – tell a vastly different story.