BBSCL

The National Health Survey 2023 reveals that areca nut consumption among Bhutanese aged 15 to 69 rose to nearly 60 per cent last year, marking a three per cent increase since 2019. The health ministry attributes the rise to the product being cheap, easily available and culturally accepted in the country. To address this, the ministry plans to introduce measures...

The Gelephu Mindfulness City must prioritise financially viable and bankable projects to secure investments. According to its Board Director, Yee Ean Pang, mobilising funds is crucial to realising the vision of Gelephu as a business hub. Speaking at a recent forum in the capital, the board director said that the city would adopt a “four-plus-one” funding model to attract investments....

The need for a hospital in Pasakha in Phuentshogling has become crucial due to the growing population in the area. Recognising the need, Phuentshogling Thromde has begun the design and estimation work for the much-needed facility. Pasakha is not only home to the people of Samphelling Gewog but also serves as an industrial hub, hosting hundreds of workers. Despite having...

Delays in fully commissioning the Punatsangchhu-II hydropower project are expected to affect economic growth in 2024. The country’s economy is now projected to grow by five per cent this year, over one percentage point lower than earlier estimates. The finance ministry, in its latest macroeconomic situation report, said that the downward revision was mainly due to the PHPA-II commissioning delay...