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The Department of Archaeology has begun exploration of the existence of an arms factory in the Patu Ratmata area of Bardibas-3.

A three-member expert team led by the Department's archaeologist Bhaskar Gyawali arrived in Bardibas on Saturday.

This place is a site of archaeological importance based on the conclusions of the previous studies obtained so far, said archaeologist Gyawali.

This place was discovered two decades ago by German researcher Gudon Karwins in Patu, Bardibas-3, on the present BP Highway (Bardibas-Banepa Highway). The expert team has stated that the future exploration work will proceed based on his study and exploration report.

The preliminary study has shown that this factory occupied a large area on the west side of the highway, four kilometers north of the present Bardibas Chowk.

The expert team has stated that the remains of human settlements were found here as far back as seven thousand years ago. The weapons factory may have existed much earlier, according to the expert team.

After the Department of Archaeology formally started work on the weapons factory site, the ancient sites here are now being studied gradually, says Bardibas Mayor Prahlad Kumar Chhetri.

Twenty-six persons were injured in a clash between police and locals protesting against the construction of a cable car in Pathibhara on Saturday. The clash took place at Baludanda, Kaflepati.

Among the injured, 21 are security personnel.

The protesters claimed that four persons were injured when police opened fire on them. According to them, among the injured, three are in critical condition.

Chief District Officer Netra Prasad Sharma said that the situation had become tense after the protesters pelted stones at the police.

The District Police Office has stated that the police have recovered three khukuris, a slingshot and other items from the protesters.

According to Deputy Superintendent of Armed Police Naresh Maharjan, various items were recovered during the search after receiving information that the protesters were armed.

Meanwhile, the Himalayan Construction Private Limited has proceeded with the cable car construction work with a place to complete the construction within 15 months.

 The situation is now normal, according to the District Administration Office.

 Security personnel of Nepal and China have conducted a joint monitoring of the northern border area in and around Humla.

The border crossing in Hilsa of Namkha Rural Municipality-5 was monitored on Saturday.

As per the decision of the security personnel of the two countries, the border and border posts in the in Hilsa were jointly monitored, said Armed Police Force (APF) Inspector Krishna Bahadur Ojha, who heads the APF Border Security Post in Hilsa.

The joint monitoring was conducted to prevent any untoward incident at the border crossing, to understand the condition of the border posts and to increase coordination among the security personnel.

The monitoring team included Chinese security personnel from China and the Armed Police Force and District Police from Nepal.

Meanwhile, Nepali security personnel have been patrolling from Hilsa towards Nara and Limi.

The Armed Police Force has been deployed in border security since its establishment in Hilsa transit point on the northern border in 2077 BS.

Deputy Superintendent of the Armed Police Force Devraj Rai said that although snowfall in northern Namkha during winter closes the movement in Yari and Hilsa the Armed Police Force has been deployed in border security all year round.

Pokhara Metropolitan City (PMC) has intensified preparations for observing the Pokhara Visit Year, 2025 in a grand manner.

PMC had declared Pokhara city the tourism hub of Nepal last year.

The Visit Year is expected to spur economic activities by creating new jobs and promoting art and cultures in the city.

It is also aimed at conservation of nature. The tourism entrepreneurs have been positive towards the Visit Year 2025, thinking that it would be an opportunity to reap benefits.

Mayor Dhanraj Acharya informed that they were planning to hold a special function at the end of this month or early next month to forward the tourism activities under the yearlong observance.

The Pokhara Visit Year is included in PMC's policy and programs.

According to Acharya, the local level was at work to make the Visit Year successful. "Pokhara Visit Year, 2025 would a milestone for promotion of tourism in Pokhara city and vicinity. We've forwarded preparation accordingly," he added.

He shared that PMC has prioritized collaboration at multiple layers- local, national and international- to make the yearlong campaign successful.

"Cooperation and coordination from all sides is essential to boost tourism in Pokhara," he stressed, adding that neighbouring country China had declared 2025 as Nepal Visit Year, which would play a significant role in bolstering Nepal's activities in tourism sector.

Similarly, chief of tourism and urban development division at PMC, Bimal Ranjan Karki, said under the Pokhara Visit Year, 2025, plans were afoot for conducting regular flights to various countries from the Pokhara International Airport, diversification of tourist activities by expanding tourism to rural level and fostering eco-tourism, and involving locals in tourism.

Similarly, national and international publicity of Pokhara tourism via digital media are also planned by the local level.

PMC has set an ambitious goal of bringing in 1.5 million tourists this year.

However, former vice chairman of urban planning commission at PMC and tourism strategist, Ram Chandra Lamichhane, said only announcement would not suffice, but essential homework and active engagement to make the campaign a success.

For the realization of Visit Year, infrastructure development, clear strategy and strong willpower are imperative, he underlined.