Nepal, Jan. 9 -- Minister for Education, Science and Technology Mahabir Pun has refused invitations to two high-profile international events, opting not to attend programs scheduled in Saudi Arabia and Israel.

On Friday, he took to Facebook to clarify that, just like in the past, he has declined these invitations.

"Look, after becoming minister, I did not attend three previous foreign invitations. Now, two more have come and I am not going either. Until the country's economy improves, it doesn't matter who the Prime Minister or Finance Minister is-nothing substantial will happen because real progress needs money. Can traveling abroad fix the economy?" he wrote.

The Saudi invitation was to speak at the third edition of the Human Capaci...