Kathmandu, April 18:

A top honcho of the Nepal Freight Forwarder Association (NEFFA) has informed that export of cargo by air has not been affected by the ongoing strike of the seven political parties that has entered the 13th day today.

Namgyal Lama, president of NEFFA informed The Himalayan Times today, that cargo movement has not been effected by the strike. The freight forwarders association has already extended its support to the seven parties’ movement to restore ‘full-democracy’ in the country. He said it will ultimately motivate people in improving their economic status through participation in ‘business and income-generating activities’.

However, Lama said that the police force is hijacking empty vehicles while they return from the airport. He says that hijacking of vehicles occurs during bandhs and strikes. He urged the government administration to stop this, which has hit exporters and freight forwarders hard. He said that 25 trucks were seized by the police administration yesterday alone.

Responding to queries on why the strike has not affected exports, he said, “Export is sensitive business and if we can not export on time, buyers would be diverted to other parts of the globe which is a great loss to the national coffer.”

The government’s activities prove that it is not ‘protecting and promoting’ the export sector, he blamed.

Rabindra Man Singh, chief of FedEx Nepal office expressed serious concerns that government employees are not providing services to the business sector despite they are paid salaries form the taxes collected from taxpayers. “Other unemployed people should replace the government employees who go on strike,” he demanded. “Government employees should not be involved in politics.”

Politics has already hit our business activities hard that runs into millions of rupees, he informed. However, Singh who is also the former president of NEFFA, said that the current strike has not affected exports that go by air. But exports through land has come to a complete halt that needs to be given serious attention.

Lama said that even international airlines have already informed that they will have fuel shortage in a day or two. Yesterday alone, NEFFA informed that 68 tonnes of cargo was exported to other countries. Today, 80 tonnes of cargo is being cleared form TIA Cargo Complex, Lama informed.

He also informed that NEFFA is collecting funds for the treatment of injured people who participated at the ongoing peaceful demonstration initiated by the seven political parties.