Study on Pokhara Int'l Airport submitted to PAC

KATHMANDU: A parliamentary subcommittee has submitted a report on Pokhara International Airport (PIA) to the Public Account Committee (PAC) of the House of Representatives (HoR).

The subcommittee, led by lawmaker Rajendra Prasad Lingden, conducted an investigation into the construction process of the airport before submitting its findings. Members of the subcommittee included 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. The PAC will review the report and discuss the findings, according to the subcommittee.

The subcommittee conducted the study and monitoring of PIA following concerns raised from multiple sectors regarding irregularities in the airport’s construction. The monitoring was carried out in line with the PAC’s decision on June 9, 2024.

During the field visit and inspection, the subcommittee held discussions with stakeholders, local residents, and experts.

The report details various issues concerning physical infrastructure, equipment, the runway, and the surrounding area.

The airport was built for Rs 22 billion, financed through a loan from EXIM Bank of China. Construction was completed on December 29, 2022.

Although the airport was officially inaugurated in January 2023, it has not handled regular international flights, except for a few chartered services. Currently, only domestic flights operate from the facility.

The subcommittee stated that its report highlights problems in the construction process and is expected to assist the government in making further decisions regarding the airport.

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