Employees seek clarification on study panel

Kathmandu, Aug. 17 (RSS): The united action committeee of the Inter-Corporation and Inter-Banking Employees Association National Committee has called on the government to make things clear concerning the level of the five member committe to be formed to study the demands of the employees and the representation of employees on the committee.

A communique signed by action committee convenor Mahesh Raj Kharel and Krishna Kumar Fuyal says the general strike called by the action committee has been halted keeping in mind its widespread effect on the general public, the interests of the corporations and their customers and the decision taken yesterday by the Finance Ministry. But the rest of their protest programme will continue.

Ghimire chairman of Gorkhapatra

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Aug. 17: The government has appointed Purandar Ghimire as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Gorkhapatra Corporation.

"Let’s work unitedly to raise all our publications to No. 1 status" Chairman Ghimire told the department chiefs of the Corporation during his first official meeting with them this afternoon.

Ghimire holds a Master’s Degree in Public Relations and Journalism from Maryland University of the United States of America.

He served as the Chairman of the country’s national news agency Rastriya Samachar Samiti form 1998-2000. Prior to that, he was the Chairman-cum-General Manager of the same organisation.

Ghimire was communications director of Salt Trading Corporation Ltd. from 1995-97.

During the early 90s, he was Washington correspondent for the Kantipur and The Kathmandu Post.

Ghimire was the founding member of Nepal Radio Programme in Washington in 1991 and the advisor to Nepali Diary in Voice of America during the same period.

Ghimire also served as the assistant editor of Diamond Back, a daily newspaper published by Maryland University.

From 1980-81, Ghimire was a member of The Rising Nepal’s editorial team in 1980-81. Earlier, Ghimire was the associate editor of Bimarsha weekly (1979-80) and executive editor of Janahit biweekly in 1979-80.

Ghimire was the chief of Nepal Press Union’s international relations department in 1996.

More flights of Singapore Airlines, Gulf Air to Nepal

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Aug.17: Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has permitted Gulf Air and Singapore Airlines to increase their flight frequencies to and from Kathmandu.

Gulf Air will operate five scheduled flights in a week to and from Kathmandu beginning September 11 this year. The international airline will operate in the Kathmandu-Abudhabi-Bharain routes. Under the new schedule, Gulf Air will operate in Abudhabi-Kathmandu-Abudhabi, Abudhabi-Kathmandu-Baharain, Baharain-Kathmandu-Baharain and Baharain-Kathmandu-Abudhabi routes on Monday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

CAAN has also authorised Gulf Air to operate three extra weekly flights to and from Kathmandu. The international airlines will conduct the extra flights in Abudhabi-Kathmandu-Abudhabi, Baharain-Kathmandu-Baharain, and Abudhabi-Kathmandu-Baharain routes on Sunday, Monday and Wednesday.

Under the present summer schedule, Gulf Air has been flying in and out from here three times a week.

Similarly, CAAN has allowed Singapore Airlines to operate four scheduled weekly flights in Singapore-Kathmandu-Singapore route beginning October 2, this year. The international airline will fly in and out of Kathmandu on Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Singapore Airlines’ presently has three scheduled flights in Singapore-Kathmandu-Singapore route on Sunday, Wednesday and Friday.

With annual tourist arrival growth rate recorded at around 10 per cent, international airlines flying in have been increasing their flight frequencies of late. Including Royal Nepal Airlines, the national flag carrier, 15 international airlines fly in and out of Kathmandu.

Around 90 per cent of the inbound tourists arrive here by air. Nearly 500,000 tourists visited the country in 1999.