Lohani was appointed
Minister of Finance of Nepal in July 1983 and June 2003. During his tenure as the Finance Minister, for the first time in Nepal, he initiated the process of financial liberalization by introducing policies in favor of
privatization of public enterprises. Growth in Nepal's financial market, especially the emergence of banking sectors, financial institutions can be attributed to the policies enacted by him during his tenure as a finance minister. Nepal's first joint venture backed bank, Nepal Arab Bank Limited (now
Nabil Bank), was established during his tenure. Lohani along with his love toward politics, has a keen interest in finance and economics. He has shared his ideas and views at various national and international forums such
Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington, DC, (chairman) 41st session of the
ESCAP in Bangkok and (chairman) Nepal Aid Group meeting in 2004. Lohani has also published papers in prestigious journals like the
University of Chicago Journal of Political Economy. He was a
Fulbright scholar who taught as an assistant professor of finance at the
California State University, Northridge, California, US (1968–1969). Lohani has an MBA degree from
Indiana University and PhD from
University of California Los Angeles (UCLA). Lohani was a member of Nepal's historic erstwhile
Constituent Assembly, which had been tasked with drafting a new constitution. At present Lohani is the chairman of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party. ==References==