Kathmandu, 06 April (H.S.): Lawmakers from Lumbini Province urged Prime Minister Balendra Shah on Monday to immediately seek assistance from the Indian government to operationalize Gautam Buddha International Airport in Bhairahawa, located near the Indian border.

During a meeting with directly elected House of Representatives members from Lumbini, Nepali Communist Party leader and parliamentarian Yamnath Pun (also known as Barshaman Pun) proposed urgent collaboration with India. He stressed expediting airport operations, advocating swift diplomatic engagement on air routes for international flights without further delay.

Pun called for establishing a labor desk at Bhairahawa to regularize international flights and unlock tourism potential, a suggestion endorsed by all attending MPs. They expressed concern over the airport's non-operation five years post-construction, insisting no alternative exists to diplomatic initiatives with India for this border-proximate facility.

Prime Minister Shah assured the lawmakers he would promptly direct the Foreign Ministry and Civil Aviation Authority to initiate diplomatic talks with India on the matter.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar