Pokhara, Feb. 25: Speaker Taranath Ranabhat inaugurated the one-day seminar on “Pokhara International Airport Project” organised by Regional Hotel Association Nepal, Pokhara here today

Speaking on the occasion, Speaker Ranabhat said that construction work of the international airport would not stop due to lack of funds but the international sector has been suspicious because of the political instability and commission mongering in the country.

The prestige of Pokhara is being enhanced in the international arena and the international institutions and diginitaries have love and goodwill for Pokhara, Mr Ranabhat said, adding that the need for an international level airport is being felt in Pokhara as it has become a center for education and health.

Stating that even though many foreign tourists wish to visit Nepal, we have not been able to bring them due to shortage of flights, Mr Ranabhat said that His Majesty’s Government should extend positive cooperation for development of Pokhara as it could contribute to the economy of the country.

Mp and nc kaski district president Sukra Raj Sharma requested the authorities concerned to start construction of the airport on the land acquired many years ago.

Kaski ddc chairman Punya Prasad Poudel expressed the view that development of Pokhara was possible through the joint commitment of  the local political parties, businessmen social workers and intellectuals.

Mayor of Pokhara sub-metropolitan city Krishna Thapa informed that 39 kilometers of drainage would be built and 12 kilometers of roads blacktopped within the next 17 months with the loan assistance of the Asian Development Bank.

At the seminar chaired by president of the Regional Hotel Association Nepal Sunder Kumar Shrestha, Mayor of Lekhnath Municipality Shaligram Poudel, chairman of Pokhara Valley Town Development Committee Ashok Palikhe, advisor at the Ministry of Industry Ananda Raj Mulmi, president of the Pokhara Chamber of Commerce and Industry Azad Shrestha, chief engineer of the Nepal Civil Aviation Authority Upendra Dhital, first vice-president of the Regional Hotel Association Nepal Hari Prasad Gurung, chief district officer Shyam Sunder Sharma also expressed their views.

The seminar was participated in by the representatives of political parties, hotel entrepreneurs, the chiefs of offices, industrialists, businessmen, people’s representatives and the journalists.