Country’s economy on positive track: Finance Minister Mahat

Gandaki / Sept 4: Finance Minister Dr Prakash Sharan Mahat today said the country’s economy has been on a positive track.

Despite going through difficulties during the 2015 earthquake and subsequent COVID-19, the situation of the country is not disappointing, he said while inaugurating the annual general meeting of the Pokhara Tourism Council (PTC) in Pokhara.

Negativity only decreases confidence, and there is no need to be disappointed about the country’s economy as revenue collection, a key performance indicator, has been good as compared to the previous fiscal year, he stressed.

Stating that the government was active in resolving problems in the economic sector, the minister said capital expenditure would take place effectively.

Saying tourism has been taken as an important base for prosperity, he stressed the need for making Pokhara a transit of tourism, which he said would increase tourism activities.

Similarly, Minister for Industry, Tourism, Forest and Environment of Gandaki Province, Dipendra Bahadur Thapa said the provincial and federal governments had focused on the operation of international flights from the Pokhara International Airport. The PTC President Pom Narayan Shrestha said Indian tourists were facing problems in the exchange of Indian notes of 500, thus affecting their inflow.

Drawing the attention of the concerned authority to the non-operation of international flights from the Pokhara International Airport, he said the delay in the construction of the Pokhara-Muglin road has had a direct implication on Pokhara’s tourism.

On the occasion, various people and institutions, that have contributed to the activities of the Council, were honoured. RSS