Kathmandu, February 11:

The government is planning to invite private investors’ shares in the country’s half-century old national flag carrier Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC), through its public-partnership programme.

“We are in search of partners for our Nepal Airlines Corporation. We have started the process of amending necessary laws for this,” said Pradip Gyawali, the Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, today.

While addressing the fifth central convention of NAC Employee Organisation, he stressed that the government is aware of welfare of the 1,400 staffers it has and will do its best to guarantee their job security, adding that at least 10 per cent of the total shares will be distributed to the staffers. He also said the government cannot always support the corporation though it has been the government’s priority to provide service to residents of remote areas.

“It is not that we want to forget our liabilities, but nobody is going to save NAC if the staffers are not committed to do this in the coming two years,” he said.

Minister Gyawali also directed the NAC to take immediate steps for purchasing new airplane and making the whole process of purchasing transparent. “I cannot understand why the NAC is delaying the purchase when the government has already decided on this issue. Please do it on my order and I am ready to take responsibility of the results,” he said.

Meantime, he also urged the staffers to improve their efficiency and attitude towards clients.

“You may come up with protests and demands but the government as well as the people want to see NAC employees being sincere, efficient and supporting,” he said.

He also said the government has passed a directive for improving facilities of the NAC staffers.

Representatives from various trade unions of NAC expressed their views on the present condition of the corporation and demanded the government’s intervention to improve it.