Nepal's interim PM Sushila Karki vows to combat corruption weeks after GenZ-led protests

Nepal’s interim Prime Minister Sushila Karki on Friday pledged to fight corruption, create jobs and raise living standards after a deadly wave of youth-led protests earlier this month toppled the prior government.

Karki's comments were her first public remarks since she was appointed to the post last week and tasked with holding parliamentary elections on March 5.

A former Supreme Court chief justice, Karki is the only woman to have held that post and is also the first woman to lead Nepal.

The violent protests, led by young Nepalis and dubbed by organisers as "demonstrations by Gen Z", killed 72 people and forced Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli to quit.

More than 2,100 people were injured as arson and vandalism caused extensive damage to public property, including the main office complex which houses the prime minister’s office, the Supreme Court and the parliament building, as well as private property including luxury hotels.

The government is committed to creating employment opportunities, raising quality of life, transparency in government work, corruption control and development, she said.

Karki, 73, who was backed by Gen Z representatives for the job because of her personal commitment to fight corruption and to the rule of law, said she was committed to holding elections on time.