Study report on Pokhara Int’l Airport submitted to PAC

Kathmandu: The parliamentary subcommittee’s report on Pokhara International Airport (PIA) has been submitted to the Public Account Committee.

The subcommittee, coordinated by lawmaker Rajendra Prasad Lingden, carried out a thorough investigation into the PIA’s construction process and submitted the report. The subcommittee members were Arjun Narsing KC, Aman Lal Modi, Gokul Prasad Banskota, Janardan Sharma, Tara Lama Tamang, Deepak Giri, Dev Prasad Timilsina, Prem Bahadur Ale and Ram Krishna Yadav.

Discussion on the report would be made in the PAC, the subcommittee shared. The sub-panel had conducted the study and monitoring of the PIA in response to the questions raised by multiple sectors over the irregularities in the construction process.

The monitoring was done as per PAC’s decision made on June 9, 2024. During the field visit and inspection, the subcommittee held discussions with stakeholders, locals and experts. It brought forth the report incorporating multifarious issues ranging from physical infrastructure, equipment, runway, to the vicinity.

The PIA was constructed at the cost of Rs 22 billion with a loan from EXIM Bank of China. The undertaking was over on December 29, 2022. Although the facility was officially launched in January 2023, the airport has not witnessed international flights except for a few chartered ones.

Only domestic service is available there. The subcommittee report would divulge the problems that plagued the construction process, which is expected to help the government make further decisions on it, the subcommittee argued.

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