MP Ale alleges over Rs 10 billion corruption in Pokhara Airport Project
He further stated that when he requested documents related to taxation, the Ministry of Finance failed to provide the necessary information.
KATHMANDU: Prem Bahadur Ale, a Member of Parliament from the CPN (Unified Socialist), has alleged that over Rs 10 billion was misappropriated through negotiations during the construction of the Pokhara International Airport.
Speaking at the Public Accounts Committee meeting on Wednesday, Ale claimed that the airport’s flight procedure design provided to them was only from November 2022, raising concerns about transparency and documentation.
He further stated that when he requested documents related to taxation, the Ministry of Finance failed to provide the necessary information.
Questioning the committee’s effectiveness, he asked whether the Public Accounts Committee itself had become weak.
Ale pointed out that the airport, initially planned at a cost of $145 million, was abruptly increased to $216 million—suggesting that a whopping $71 million had been openly embezzled.
Calling the Pokhara case just a “trailer” of corruption, Ale warned that the full “film” of corruption is yet to be seen in Bhairahawa.
