From bloody insurgency to change in the political regime and frequent change of the government, Nepal has been passing through the most unstable period in its history. Despite being in the bad times, Nepal has made achievement in the development sector that is unbelievable.

Released by vice chairman of National Planning Commission Dr. Rabindra Kumar Shakya, Nepal Millennium Development Goals Progress Repot 2013 revealed many positive progresses made by Nepal in the last 13 years. However, there are dismal points as well.

Nepal has already achieved a majority of the health related goals or is on track to achieving them, except two indicators in MDG 5, the contraceptive prevalence rate and the unmet need for family planning and one in the MDG6, the proportion of the population with advanced HIV receiving antiretroviral combination therapy.

“It is a great pleasure for me to say that Nepal has made a great achievement in meeting MDG goals,” said Dr. Rabindra Shakya, vice chairman of National Planning Commission. “Had Nepal got the political stability, Nepal’s progress would have been much faster and higher,” said Shakya.

Although Nepal has seen over a half dozen governments and two political systems and crucial phase of violent insurgency, nothing has hampered Nepalese people’s quest to make progress. Whether it is in primary enrolment or girl child’s enrolment and immunization or infant mortality rate, Nepal has made a major progress.

“Nepal’s achievement in the MDGs is exemplary among the least developed countries,” said UNDP resident representative Jamie McGodrick. “Nepal needs to take some more steps to make progress in the areas of inclusion.”

Presenting the highlights, former vice chancellor of NPC Jagadish Chandra Pokharel said Nepal needs to set the priority to achieve those goals beyond 2015. Chief secretary Leelmani Paudyal expressed that the progress made by Nepal  is exemplary.

Mohna Ansari, member of National Women Commission, said gender based violence and exclusion continue to be major problems in Nepal.  Yubaraj Bhushal, secretary at National Planning Commission, held the view that this is a success for all Nepalis.

Despite achieving the success, Nepal’s challenges in the future are to maintain the achievements and progress made during the last several years.