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Pokhara, a scenic city in western Nepal, is one of the major tourism centers in the country. However, the tourism industry in the city is mired in crisis. It was the Covid-19 pandemic that devastated the tourism sector followed by the liquidity crunch and skyrocketing borrowing rates that added to the difficulties of tourism businesses. In a conversation with Smita Adhikari of ApEx, Pom Narayan Shrestha, President of the Pokhara Tourism Council talks about the problems surrounding Pokhara tourism and the kind of support entrepreneurs are seeking from the government. Excerpts: Official data show a significant increase in tourist arrivals in the country lately. What is the real situation of tourism in Pokhara? Tourism in Pokhara is facing its worst period. The situation is even worse than during the Covid-19 pandemic. It is because almost 80 percent of tourism entrepreneurs here in Pokhara are in great difficulty in terms of repaying the loans they availed to recover from the losses of the pandemic. We have been looking for the government's support. If the government fails to bail us out immediately, the tourism industry in Pokhara will sink further. Why does the tourism industry in Pokhara and tourism entrepreneurs require prompt intervention from the government? We had held high hopes from Visit Nepal 2020 which the government launched in early 2020. However, the breakout of the Covid-19 pandemic in March 2020 hit us hard. The tourism entrepreneurs had undertaken special projects and borrowed a huge amount of money for business expansion in view of the tourism campaign. All those investments and expansions have turned into a liability due to the pandemic which forced us to shut down our hotel/restaurant properties for months. When the flow of tourists stopped suddenly after the global health emergency was announced, these investments remained unproductive. Almost 70 percent of tourism entrepreneurs have a high burden of loans at present. The government must take us out of this precarious situation. Has the tourism industry returned to the pre-pandemic level? Tourism in Pokhara is yet to come out from the impact of the pandemic. The arrival of tourists has not recovered to the pre-pandemic level. The Yeti Airlines aircraft crash further hit Pokhara tourism when it was trying to come out from the impact of the pandemic. The hotels in Pokhara experienced a lot of cancellations following the crash. How many people and organizations here in Pokhara depend on the tourism sector? How have they contributed to development? There are almost 1,300 hotels running in and around Pokhara. Among them, five percent are star hotel properties. Almost 60 percent of hotels in Pokhara have been providing high-standard services, especially targeting foreign tourists. Similarly, there are almost 200 trekking and travel agencies operating here. Hotels are actually the most influential taxpayers of Pokhara. Why should there be more focus on Pokhara to make it convenient for tourism? Pokhara has more resources than other cities in Nepal.  Pokhara is the entry point of world-renowned trekking routes like Annapurna and Mardi Trek. Almost half a dozen mountains over 8,000 meters such as Annapurna, Machhapuchhre, Manaslu, Dhawalagiri are located in this region. On the other hand, a number of wetlands and green hills along with scenic lakes have added value to Pokhara's tourism. The onus lies on the government to prioritize resource allocation for further improving tourism infrastructure and transforming Pokhara into an international tourism center in the true sense. Are you saying that Pokhara has been marginalized in regard to resource allocation? Yes, to some extent. It is because the government and the central bank have not brought programs and policies to support the tourism sector despite knowing the plight of this sector after the pandemic. We have frequently gone to various government agencies asking for a rescue but they did not hear us. Similarly,  Nepal Tourism Board is not working in productive ways as a huge amount of its budget has been frozen. The government also hasn't shown interest in cooperating with us while developing tourism infrastructures here. The Pokhara Regional International Airport is one example in this regard. What do tourism entrepreneurs want from the government which would help tourism in Pokhara regain its previous glory? We are looking for an extension of the time to repay the loans. We should be given an additional two years time to complete the loan repayment. However, banks and financial institutions have been knocking at our doors, pressing us to pay the loans immediately. We also want single-digit interest rates on our loans till the flow of tourists returns to the pre-pandemic levels.

I’m a 21-year-old student, whose panic attacks and anxiety have been worsening lately. I feel like I’m a burden to everyone and everything bad that happens is my fault. Sometimes, I blame everyone else for the terrible things that happen to me. It feels like I’m just looking for people to pin the blame on. Also, I constantly think of locking myself in a dark room because I feel lonely all the time. It happens in moments when I’m minding my own business or having a casual conversation. I don’t know what this is but I know it’s not normal. How can I get out of this?—RR Answered by Kapil Sharma, counseling psychologist, Nepal Institute of Mental Health Transitioning from a teenager to a young adult means going through a lot of changes mentally, so you might be facing some uncertainty issues. That is completely natural. But you have mentioned that your panic attacks and anxiety have been worsening lately which means the intensity of your problem is increasing. Usually, in these cases, some triggering factors push one towards mental breakdown, for instance, panic attacks. Figuring out what that triggering factor is is the first step to take.  You must address whether a certain situation makes you happy, sad, or angry. Sometimes, things around us trigger our breakdowns and, in most cases, we are unable to notice that. One thing I want you to do is to ask yourself why you are getting anxiety or a panic attack in situations like this. Look around yourself. There must be something or someone that triggered your reaction.  When you figure that out, you can move on to managing your emotions. For some, avoiding situations that make them emotionally and mentally unstable is the best solution. But you can also try another exercise, where you need to list down five good things about the person or a thing that has been bothering you psychologically. It will be difficult at first, but you will slowly get used to it with practice. Managing symptoms is one thing, but treating them is another. For that, I suggest you visit a psychiatrist as s/he will be able to give you a proper diagnosis. With proper medication, that is if needed, and the right guidance from a mental health professional, the process of healing will be much more comfortable for you.  Now, your tendency to repeatedly blame yourself has led you to believe that everything is your fault, which I hope you know isn’t true. You can help yourself by trying to figure out whether you have this feeling towards everyone, a particular group, or an individual. Also, it’s better to inquire if something is your fault, rather than making an assumption. That will help you gain self-confidence and stand up for yourself, which will eventually make you feel better. Also, you mentioned your tendency to blame others when you are suffering transcends what you are used to. Again, you should question and rationalize whether it’s just everyone or whether there are any specific people you are infuriated with. At times like this, it’s best to have someone by your side who can support and understand you emotionally.  I understand that sometimes it’s not easy to share your innermost thoughts and feelings. In times like that, express yourself by journaling, where there are no boundaries. You can be as honest as you can. Journaling will not only help you to identify things that have been dragging you toward loneliness but also help you reflect on yourself. It can be a way of answering questions like what you truly want, and how you can work on obtaining that. 

I’m starting to find most restaurants in Kathmandu mundane. Maybe that’s because I eat out almost every day. My orders are usually the same and I don’t find much difference in terms of taste either. So, while looking for some unique restaurants, I ended up at Frango in Chabahil, Kathmandu.  At first glance, I wasn’t impressed with the place. But when I looked at their menu, that was when I got excited. It had a lot of options and, honestly, it took me a while to decide what to eat. I noticed that most of the dishes included chicken, although a few options for vegetarians were also available. But there was another menu that caught my attention—a separate one that includes calorie counts, perfect for fitness enthusiasts. Looking at my order, I assumed it would take a good 30 minutes to be served. I was wrong. The service here is quite quick. My first order was the Wings Platter, which arrived at the table in around seven minutes. The platter had a total of 12 wings in six flavors: mango and lime, lemon and herb, salsa, mild, extra hot, and extremely hot. Pre-cooked wings were grilled and marinated with different spices, and they came with a side of Peri-Peri Fries, which was absolutely delicious. The meat was juicy and tender. Also, I liked the fact that they gave us gloves to avoid sticky fingers.  In terms of flavors, all of them were good. But my personal favorite was the mango and lime one. It had just the right mixture of tangy and sweet flavor. I wasn’t a big fan of lemon and herb. It was too sour for my taste. In terms of spiciness, even ‘extremely hot’ was mild for me, while the person who had accompanied me had to have sips of his drink between bites. So, picking a favorite depends on your preferences. You won’t know unless you try.  For the next dish, the restaurant recommended Jalapeño Pitta. It’s a hollow bread with fillings inside, which, in our case, was chicken breast, jalapeños, cheese, red onions, and lettuce tied together with a blend of other spices. It tasted immaculate. I was surprised to see how tender and well-cooked the chicken was. But the bread they used stood out the most. It was soft, flaky, and quite different from what I have had in other restaurants, maybe because they made it themselves. The portion was a bit small for the price, but I would order it again on my next visit.  Don’t miss out on their Quesadilla, a Mexican dish with fillings stuffed inside a tortilla. It’s a perfect option for both vegetarians and non-vegetarians. Like pitta, the tortilla was what I loved. It had a slight crunch and was soft at the same time. In terms of fillings, everything was well-balanced, and the chicken was flavorful. It also had sweet corn, which gave just the right amount of sweetness, to make this savory dish a perfect one. The next dish we tried was Quarter Chicken. Although its name sounds a bit confusing, the dish is as simple as it could get. It’s a chicken leg. Pre-cooked meat is grilled and marinated with a blend of spices, making the dish slightly tangy. For those who don’t like spicy food, this can be a good option.  With meals like these, a drink is a must, for which Frango has got you covered. They have a wide variety of both hot and cold drinks. We suggest you try their mocktails. There were many options, but the one I liked was the Virgin Piña Colada. The hint of pineapple in every sip I took was quite soothing and went perfectly with the dishes. You can also try their Fruit Punch and Mint Lime Refresher. They are equally good.  From the moment I entered to the moment I left, I didn’t have much to complain about the restaurant. The entire setting is absolutely clean. I know the restaurant prioritizes cleanliness by seeing how neat and well-managed their kitchen is. The staff were quite friendly and were happy to help us out with recommendations. It’s worth a visit. And who knows, you might even end up becoming a regular.  Their specials: 

• Wings Platter 
• Quesadilla 
• Pitta

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) plunged by 16. 67 points to close at 1,871.88 points on Monday. Similarly, the sensitive index dropped by 3. 05 points to close at 352. 71 points. A total of 2,829,426-unit shares of 260 companies were traded for Rs 920 billion. Meanwhile, Kalinchowk Darshan Limited was the top gainer today with its price surging by 10. 00 percent. Likewise, Prabhu Bank Debenture was the top loser with its price dropped by 10.00 percent. At the end of the day, the total market capitalization stood at Rs 2. 71 trillion.

The cabinet expansion and the appointment of a new finance minister have failed to lift the confidence of stock market investors. The Nepal Stock Exchange (Nepse) plunged by double-digit on Sunday, the first trading day of the week. Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Friday expanded the cabinet, inducting 11 ministers, in which Nepali Congress leader Dr. Prakash Saran Mahat was given the Finance Ministry portfolio. Unlike the appointment of Bishnu Poudel as finance minister in December 2022, the appointment of Dr. Mahat has received a cold response from the share market. The benchmark index fell by 20 points on Sunday. On the contrary, when Poudel took charge of the Finance Ministry on December 27, 2022, the Nepse index surged by 59.87 points. During Poudel’s tenure, the stock market had risen by 427 points. And, the market lost 180 points following his exit from the Finance Ministry. On Sunday, the benchmark index had again fallen below 1900 points as the Nepse index closed at 1888.55 points. On Sunday, the Nepse opened at 1,910.49 points and hit an intraday high of 1,928.66 points before rising to the intraday low of 1,883.04 points and settling at 1,888.55 points. The Nepse recorded a daily turnover of Rs 1.20bn on Sunday which was slightly higher than Thursday. The stock market has been on a downward spiral after the mid-term review of the monetary policy and the central bank tightening the dividend distribution of microfinance institutions (MFIs). Along with the daily turnover, the number of trade shares also increased on Sunday. The number of shares traded decreased to 3.78 million scripts from 2.75 million on Thursday. Kumari Bank Promoter Shares were traded the most on Sunday while NIC Asia Bank recorded the highest turnover of Rs 50.5 million. All the sub-indices turned red on Sunday with the trading sub-index losing the most. On Sunday, Kalinchowk Darshan Limited, Citizens Mutual Fund-1, Jeevan Bikas Laghubitta, NIC Asia Flexi CAP Fund, and Swet-Ganga Hydropower & Construction Limited led the market as top gainers while Swabhimaan Laghubitta, Prabhu Bank Debenture 2087, Kalika Laghubitta, Vijaya Laghubitta, and Maya Khola Hydropower Company were the top losers. Top Five Gainers 

Economist Dr Swarnim Wagle has filed his nomination for the by-election to the member of the House of Representatives slated for April 23 from the Rastriya Swatantra Party. Wagle filed the nomination by reaching the Chief Election Officer’s Office this afternoon. The by-election is being held in Tahanun-1 for a seat that is vacant after Nepali Congress lawmaker Ram Chandra Paudel was elected to the post of President. Govinda Bhattarai from the Nepali Congress and for IGP Sarbendra Khandal from the CPN-UML have also filed their nominations in Tanahun-1.  

Janata Samajbadi Party Chairman Upendra Yadav filed his nomination for the by-election to the member of the House of Representatives slated for April 23. Chairman Yadav filed the nomination at the Election Officer’s Office set up in the Kalaiya-based District Coordination Committee’s Office for the by-election from Bara-2. The by-election is being held for a seat that is vacant after Janata Samajbadi Party lawmaker Ram Sahaya Prasad Yadav was elected to the post of Vice-President. Purushottam Paudel of the CPN-UML, Shiva Chandra Kushawaha of the Janamat Party and Ramesh Kharel of the Rastriya Swatantra Party are preparing to file the nominations in Bara-2.  

A committee formed by the board of the Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) to identify and resolve the problems concerning microfinance institutions (MFIs) has sought feedback from the public. The committee headed by NRB Executive Director Prakash Kumar Shrestha, who is the Chief of the Economic Research Department of the central bank, issued a notice on Sunday for feedback to be submitted by May 3. As protests erupted over alleged excesses by MFIs in various parts of the country, the central bank decided to form the committee which has been mandated to identify the problems and make necessary recommendations by mid-July this year. A committee member said that the problems appear to have arisen mainly due to multiple banking by MFIs to the single borrower. “Even though many borrowers have complained about the high borrowing rate, it should not be a big issue as the MFIs cannot charge interest rates exceeding 15 percent,” the committee member said. Because of the cap imposed by the central bank, MFIs could not raise the interest rate beyond 15 percent despite the rise in the cost of funds sharply amid the liquidity crunch. Borrowers who protested against the alleged misconduct of MFIs claimed that the institutions have been charging exorbitant interest rates, high service charges, and misbehaving with the borrowers. But promoters and high officials of MFIs have been rejecting the accusations of charging high interest rates while admitting that multiple banking transactions might have taken place. “Profit motives of many MFIs and a high target of lending assigned to the staffs might have led to multiple banking,” the committee member said. Many borrowers had managed to pay the loans in the past despite taking multiple MFIs in the past. But because of the closure of the businesses caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, they could not pay the loans immediately, but their liability continued to grow as cash flow halted due to the closure of the businesses, say officials of NRB and MFIs. With the borrowers failing to pay the loans, MFIs are being compared to loan sharks who charge very high interest rates for the money loaned informally to borrowers. With controversial businessperson and hospital owner Durga Prasain calling for physical attacks against the employees of the banks and financial institutions, a number of offices of MFIs and their staff faced physical assaults and vandalism in recent weeks.