Subcommittee submits report on Pokhara Airport irregularities to PAC
Upon receiving the report, PAC Chair Pokharel stated that the document would soon be presented to the full committee for discussion.
KATHMANDU: The Parliamentary Subcommittee formed to investigate the Pokhara Regional International Airport has submitted its study report to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the House of Representatives.
During a formal event held on Monday at the Federal Parliament Building in New Baneshwor, Subcommittee Coordinator and Chair of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), Rajendra Lingden, handed over the report to PAC Chairperson Rishikesh Pokharel.
The subcommittee was formed on July 14, 2023 (Asar 14, 2080 BS), under the Public Accounts Committee, with a mandate to monitor, investigate, and provide recommendations regarding the construction and operation of Pokhara International Airport.
The subcommittee, led by Lingden, included Members of Parliament Lekhnath Dahal, Arjun Nar Singh KC, Gokul Prasad Baskota, Janardan Sharma, Prem Bahadur Ale, Tara Lama, Tejulal Chaudhary, Deepak Giri, Dev Prasad Timilsina, Ram Krishna Yadav, and Rukmani Rana.
Upon receiving the report, PAC Chair Pokharel stated that the document would soon be presented to the full committee for discussion.
He assured that appropriate action would be taken based on the committee’s deliberations and the report’s recommendations.
Coordinator Lingden stated that the 38-page report highlights major irregularities in the airport’s construction and identifies challenges in its regular operations. “We have drawn six key conclusions in the report, which will be made public after discussion in the main committee,” he said.
The Pokhara International Airport was completed and inaugurated in January 2023 (Poush 2079 BS) at a total cost of NRs 24 billion.
Despite its international designation, the airport has faced several operational and regulatory challenges since its opening.
