Kathmandu, March 16: Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Prithvi Subba Gurung, has highlighted the significant revenue losses local governments are facing due to unregulated advertisements on hoarding boards.
Speaking at a “Capacity Development Programme on the Roles of Advertising Agencies for Advertisement Promotion”, organized by the Advertisement Board, Minister Gurung urged local levels to integrate hoarding board advertisements into their revenue systems.
“Let’s put an end to the contract-based revenue collection system at the local levels,” he stated, emphasizing the need for local governments to secure revenues from advertisements at fairs and festivals. He also advocated for the endorsement of the ‘Model of Local Levels’ Advertisement recommended by the Advertisement Board, stating that it would serve the state’s best interests.
The Minister also revealed that the government is planning to amend the Advertisement Act to regulate advertisements on social media platforms. He mentioned that submissions regarding the draft National Advertisement Policy have been received from the Ministry of Finance and the National Planning Commission and will soon be approved by the Council of Ministers.
To further develop and expand the advertising market, Minister Gurung proposed classifying and standardizing media houses, ensuring transparency in government advertisements, and systematically addressing concerns about declining media ad revenues. He also suggested revising the Advertisements Regulations, 2077 BS to mitigate revenue losses in the mass media sector.
Acknowledging the Advertisement Board’s role in maintaining transparency in public welfare advertisements, he pledged to establish an advertisement mechanism at the provincial and local levels for their fair distribution.
At the two-day capacity enhancement program, Secretary at the Ministry of Communications and Information, Radhika Aryal, stated that the Advertisement Act is under review, with input from the Advertisement Board expected soon.
Meanwhile, Advertisement Board Chair Laxman Humagain stressed the need for systematic placement of hoarding boards, arguing that unregulated competition for advertisement spaces has negatively impacted the aesthetic appeal of cities. #advertisement #nepal
