Kathmandu, Nepal—Hon. Ek. Nath Dhakal, chair of UPF-Nepal and South Asia, has been appointed as the Peace and Reconstruction Minister of Nepal, by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli. Mr. Dhakal took oath of his office from President H.E. Bidhya Devi Bhandari, along with three other government ministers, on December 24, 2015, at the Presidential Palace.
After the oath ceremony, Mr. Dhakal, along with his wife, Blessie, visited UPF-Nepal’s Peace Embassy building, where they were greeted by members of UPF-Nepal and Ambassadors for Peace.
Welcoming Mr. Dhakal to the Peace Embassy was Mr. Santosh Paudel, vice-chair of UPF-Nepal. Mr. Paudel said that Mr. Dhakal’s appointment to the high office is recognition by the Nepalese government of the work and contribution UPF, and other organizations founded by Rev. Sun Myung Moon and Dr. Hak Jak Han Moon, do and have made. Minister Dhakal said that he will work as an Ambassador for Peace to the nation: “I will apply UPF’s Principles of Peace in bringing peace and reconciliation in Nepal.” UPF-Nepal is one of the most active peace organizations in Nepal, having supported Nepal’s peace process. Mr. Dhakal is also the convener of UPF’s South Asia Peace Initiative, and is a two-time lawmaker, representing the Nepal Family Party in the Parliament.