Pokhara: A delegation from the Hotel Association Pokhara, Nepal, held separate discussions with the Finance Minister of Nepal and the Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to Nepal, seeking their assistance in ensuring the regular operation of the Pokhara International Airport.
According to National News Agency Nepal, the delegation appealed to Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Paudel to initiate direct flights from various Indian cities to Pokhara International Airport ahead of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s forthcoming visit to India. Finance Minister Paudel committed to supporting the operation of international flights from both Pokhara and Bhairahawa International Airports. Bharat Raj Parajuli, Coordinator of the Advisory Council of the Hotel Association Pokhara, stated that the Finance Minister mentioned plans to lay the foundation stone for the Nayapul-Hemja tunnel route soon, with the project report already prepared and budget allocated for the current fiscal year.
The delegation also urged the Finance Minister to expedite the construction of the Narayangadh-Butwal and Pokhara-Muglin roads, which are crucial for improving connectivity in the region.
In a separate meeting with Abdulla Saeed Mubarak Jarwan Alshamsi, the Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to Nepal, the delegation requested his support in facilitating direct flights from Pokhara to the UAE. Laxman Subedi, President of the Hotel Association Pokhara, shared that the Ambassador assured discussions with Fly Dubai to explore this possibility. Furthermore, the Ambassador expressed a positive outlook on promoting tourism in Pokhara and attracting investment from the UAE into the region’s tourism sector.