KATHMANDU, May 29:  Prime Minister Puspa Kamal Dahal has announced the establishment of a welfare fund for mountaineering and the safety of mountaineers. 

At a program organized on the occasion of the 71st International Everest Day celebrated in Kathmandu on Wednesday, the participants emphasized the importance of a welfare fund for mountaineering in the matters of future safety of mountaineers, especially the livelihoods of Sherpa ethnic groups.

The PM said, “There is a need for cooperation and coordination to mitigate the effects of climate change and to keep the mountain areas pollution-free by facing the challenges in the waste management sector. For this, the Nepal government has initiated a policy with a slogan ‘save the Himalayas, save humanity’, by organizing dialogues at national and international forums.

He said that stakeholders including all the Nepali people will have strong support for the government’s policies, priorities and initiatives. It is stated that a welfare fund for mountaineering should be established for the rights and interests of mountaineers and for their safety. He said that the government will initiate the establishment of the welfare fund for mountaineering in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance. VAT exemption has been managed for the mountaineers to make it more comfortable. Additionally, efforts will be made by the Nepal government to enhance the commercialization of this sector.

Similarly, the PM mentioned that Nepal has been established as a leader of mountain countries and the world’s attraction towards Nepal is also well expressed. He pointed out that climate change has impacted the mountain ranges including the highest mountain, so it is necessary for every Nepali to protect the mountains.

The government is formulating policies and programs by giving priority to the safety of mountaineers and self-esteem of mountaineers, he added.

The government announced that in the policies and programs of the upcoming fiscal year, various programs will be conducted with the goal of bringing a total of 1.6 million tourists in the upcoming fiscal year. The budget includes activities such as identification of new tourism destinations and the development of existing ones and promotion, providing services to the tourists via one-window policy, making mountaineering permit system automatic, and conducting identification and promotion of tourist destinations in mountains.

 
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