KATHMANDU: Kathmandu Metropolitan City Mayor Balen Shah has said the time has come to expand the reform initiatives launched in the capital to the national level, stressing action over rhetoric.

Marking the 26th Earthquake Safety Day, Shah wrote on social media that he has consistently prioritized work over words.

Recalling the aftermath of the devastating 2015 earthquake, he noted that as a civil engineer he helped construct around 2,500 houses in Kavre alone and provided technical services in more than 35 districts across the country.

Shah argued that in an earthquake-prone country like Nepal, engineering solutions alone are not enough. Effective development, he said, must integrate geographical realities with the country’s social diversity. “Development is not just roads, buildings, or big structures,” he wrote. “Real development means safe infrastructure, addressing national needs, and sustaining the public’s hope that something meaningful can be built within the country.”

He also shared that despite studying structural engineering in India and having opportunities to settle abroad, he chose to return to Nepal.

Since assuming leadership of Kathmandu, Shah claimed the metropolitan government has initiated transparent systems, improved service delivery, and begun structural reforms—demonstrating that local governments can exercise their authority to directly benefit citizens.

“Now the country needs long-term vision, not short-term decisions,” Shah stated. “What Nepal needs is not popular slogans, but honest leadership.”

Shah said his entry into politics was driven by the goal of making Nepal safe, sustainable, and well-managed.

Emphasizing preparedness, he called for disaster-resilient infrastructure and a governance system that earns public trust as urgent national priorities.