Chitwan, January 28

Vice President Nanda Bahadur Pun today said the border blockade should be lifted soon.

“People are suffering as a result of the April 25 earthquake and obstructions at border entry points. I want to request all parties to resolve the problem soon,” he said, while inaugurating Ratnagar Festival-2072 at Ratnagar of.

He said that the country had to bear heavy economic losses as continued obstructions at border entry points had badly affected trade and industries.

Vice-President Pun, however, said that the country had managed to take great economic strides due to the export of goods to neighbouring India and China. He also stressed on the need for holding more such festivals that promoted domestic goods. Urging industrialists and traders to earn profits to healthy competition, he said it was the responsibility of the government to safeguard their investment.

Likewise, stating that the industrial sector had been facing a difficult time due to continued blockade at border entry points, central member of the Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industry Dil Sundar Shrestha said the government should take initiatives to resolve the matter without further delay. A total of 465 stalls have been set up at the festival, which will continue till February 7.

According to the organisers, more than 450,000 visitors are expected to visit the festival.