April 11: Industrialists and entrepreneurs of Pokhara have urged Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal to make arrangements for the operation of international flights from Pokhara Regional International Airport.    
During a meeting with Prime Minister Dahal at Singha Durbar on Monday, a delegation of entrepreneurs under the leadership of Pokhara Tourism Council put forth 15-point demands including operation of international flights from Pokhara.    
The business community also requested the PM to lower the interest rate of banks to a single digit along with rescheduling of loan.    
Council Chair Pom Narayan Shrestha said opening heritages of Pokhara including Ratna Temple and Hima Griha are also their demands.    
He shared that they urged the prime minister to take policy-level initiation for the operation of flights immediately from Pokhara to India, China, Bangladesh and other destinations.    
Ensuring the organisational representation of tourism-related organisations by making administrative and managerial reforms of the Nepal Tourism Board, repair and upgrading of highways for the convenient travel of tourists entering Nepal by road, structural reform of Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) were the other demands put forth by the delegation.    
On the occasion, industrialists and entrepreneurs associated with Pokhara Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Nepal Association of Tours and Travel Agents, Restaurant and Bar Association, as well as other organisations said they were facing difficulties in running business and requested the prime minister to bring paragliding of Pokhara into operation in a way that it does not affect international flights. -- RSS