Briefs (Spotlight Weekly)

Prime Minister Surya Bahadur Thapa (left) meets with Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf in Islamabad

OWING TO THE OBSTRUCTION POSED BY THE MAOISTS in the surface transport of foodstuffs, the rural hilly districts are facing food shortages, said Nepal Food Corporation (NFC). According to Prabhat Chandra Pandey, chief of the sales and distribution at the NFC, the transport of food has suffered as contractors have refused to deliver them due to Maoists’ fear. At many places, the rebels even looted the foodstuff that were being transported to rural districts, he said. In such rural district, the NFC is taking help of aerial transport for food delivery. But then, the food could not be distributed beyond district headquarters. Recently, the rebels looted the food that was being carried to Mugu from Jumla. There is acute food shortage in depots of districts like Achham, Bajura, Bajhang, Jumla, Humla, Mugu, Kalikot and Dolpa.

NEPALESE AND INDIAN CUSTOM OFFICIALS HAVE signed an agreement to control the illegal trade that has been taking place since long through the porous Indo-Nepal border. Taking advantage of open border and weak custom machinery, the illegal trades worth Rs 30 billion a year takes place. The unchecked flooding of Indian goods has hurt a lot in revenue collection as well as jeopardized various domestic industries including garments in Nepal. On Saturday (November 29), the custom officials of the two countries signed an agreement to exchange information to prevent smuggling of goods, regularize the custom points and increase patrolling. The Indian side also agreed to regularly return the excise amount that Nepalese goods pay in Indian territory. “The illegal trade has hurt both the countries. Therefore, we have agreed to move jointly to control this,” said Krishna Hari Banskota, director general of Department of Customs. According to a study conducted by the South Asia Network of Economic Institute of the World Bank, on average, Rs 30.26 billion worth of goods are illegally exported/imported through the border every year. The study said that the illegal movement of goods takes place equally on both sides of the border. The Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) also states that out of total transactions with the Indian side, around 50 percent takes place through informal channels.

AT A PROGRAM ORGANIZED IN THE CAPITAL BY various organizations working to promote the rights and welfare of disabled people, it was revealed that as many as 4000 people have been disabled in the country due to the Maoist insurgency. Most of the people have lost their limbs and others are injured in their head, back etc. At present, there are around 300 disabled people seeing treatment at the two big hospitals in the city – the Teaching Hospital and the Bir Hospital.

THE PEOPLE OF POKHARA HAVE BEEN STRICKEN by panic after tremors continued to jolt this scenic city of western Nepal. Between Saturday morning (November 22) and Monday morning (November 24), the city has been rocked five times. A lot of people are flocking to the open areas fearing more tremors. According to reports the earthquake that hit Pokhara on Saturday morning was 5 richter scale in strength. The subsequent quakes were 4.4, 4.5 and 3.6 in richter scales. The epicenter of those quakes were at a region around Machhapuchhre mountain and Hemja VDC.

WITHOUT PRIOR INFORMATION, THE INDIAN government has imposed 16 percent new tax on Nepalese pashmina products. Pashmina worth Rs 100 million have been stranded at different custom points in India after the decision that was taken two weeks ago. India is the largest market of Pashmina, which is the third largest export product of Nepal. India consumes about 30 percent of the total exports. In the last fiscal year Nepal exported pashmina worth Rs 464 million to India. Till now, Nepalese pashmina were enjoying duty free access to Indian market. The pashmina traders have notified the present problem to the Nepalese as well as the Indian government.

AS THE MAOISTS HAVE BEGUN TO FORCEFULLY take away school students with them in the name of organizing people’s mobilization program, almost 96 percent of schools of Achham district has closed down for the last one month. Out of 342 schools in the district, 327 remain closed. About 45,000 students have been affected by this closure. According to district education officer Basudev Timilsina, the students and teachers are terrified to open the schools.

THE SEVENTH MEETING OF THE NEPAL-CHINA Non Governmental Cooperation Forum took place in the capital last week where the participants from both the countries stressed on the need to strengthen the economic as well as tourism ties between the two countries. The Nepalese participants urged their Chinese counterparts to invest in Nepal. Inaugurating the meeting, minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Hari Bahadur Basnet said that Nepal could benefit from the economic development of its northern neighbor. The forum had been formed seven years ago to build relations between non governmental sectors of the two countries. Thirty five people from China, including their business leaders, took part in the meeting, which is held annually. In the year 2059/60, Nepal exported goods worth US$ 21 million to China while it imported goods worth US$ 117 million from China.

THE SOALTEE CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL ORGANIZED a fun-filled sizzling evening on November 22 and 23 at the Megha Malhar hall to appreciate its Travel Trade and Corporate clients. Top-notch personalities from various business and travel sectors attended the function. A hippie theme was given to the evenings and a live DJ music kept the people thumping throughout the program. During the program, Soaltee awarded Mr. Bhupendra Pradhan, managing director of Vista Travels, the first award for contributing highest revenue and room nights to the hotel during 2002/2003. Jyoti Khanna, managing director of Yeti Travels was awarded the second prize and Moti Dhar Tuladhar, managing director of Surya Travels was awarded the third prize.

Meena Bazaar

The Pakistan Embassy Women’s Association organized a day long Meena Bazar at the Hotel Hyatt on November 29. A lot of goods from Pakistan were on display at the Bazaar.

Hundreds of people including expatriate community based in Kathmandu turned up for the event that was organized in collaboration with the Army Officers’ Wives’ Association to raise fund to help the widows of Royal Nepalese Army (RNA) personnel killed by the Maoists.

“The objective of the Meena Bazaar is to help the poor widows who have no means of livelihood,” said Saadia Akram, wife of Pakistani ambassador to Nepal Zameer Akram. She organized the event by garnering support from others. Kamala Thapa, wife of RNA chief General Pyar Jung Thapa, inaugurated the event.

The Meena Bazaar showcased a number of Pakistani products including Salwar Kameez, melamine products, leather jackets, footballs, onyx items, bed lines and so on. A separate food festival of Pakistani delicacies was also organized. At the program, it was revealed that the wife of Pakistani President has also extended financial assistance to help raise more funds for the purpose of helping RNA widows.