Kathmandu, January 1, 2007

The first meeting of the High-Level Committee to Improve Vehicles and Transport Management held here recently expressed concern over the rumour spread by the vehicle dealers that the committee would ban import of the new vehicles.

The meeting held here on Friday has also decided to collect suggestions about the mandate from its members. “The vehicle dealers have spread a rumour that the newly formed committee would stop importing new vehicles,” Manju Khand, the convener of the committee told this daily today.

She said the first meeting of the committee formed with the cabinet decision of September 18 has decided to clarify that the rumour spread in the country was baseless.

“We have decided to come up with necessary suggestions on the commission mandate in our next meeting,” Khand added.

Government has mandated the committee to draft the policy of vehicles and transport management, study the necessity and significance of National Transport Development Board, review and study existing laws and acts of vehicles and transport, classify the existing roads and vehicles, manage parking areas for buses and trucks in the urban areas.

Gyawali inaugurates VPY-2007

Pradip Gyawali, minister for culture, tourism and civil aviation, formally launched ‘Visit Pokhara Year (VPY)-2007’, amidst a function at Camping Chowk, Lake Side in Pokhara today.

Announcing the campaign, minister Gyawali said that the government would release Rs 10 million to construct a new airport nearby Pokhara bazaar. “The construction work will start within a year,” he informed.

Gyawali also made public the logo of ‘Visit Pokhara Year-2007’. He said the ministry has planned to increase the number of tourists visiting Nepal by extending air service to more countries. “Visit Pokhara Year-2007 has also included Lumbini, Palpa, Chitwan, Pokhara and adjoining areas of Pokhara in its package,” Gyawali added.

“Visit Pokhara Year-2007 is announced with the objective of doubling the existing number of tourists coming to Pokhara.” “Visit Pokhara-2007 is launched with an objective of increasing the number of domestic visitors by 40 per cent, and Indian and third country tourists by 25 per cent,” Tek Bahadur Dangi of Nepal Tourism Board said.

According to data, 70,000 tourists visit Pokhara annually. Among the tourists visiting Nepal, 25 per cent visit Pokhara and half of them go on trekking to Annapurna and Dhawalagiri areas.

“The existing tourists stay of 1.5-day would be extended to three days,” Bashudev Tripathi, coordinator of ‘Visit Pokhara Year-2007” Madhav Ghimire, secretary at the ministry said.