- Thursday, 23 October 2025
Pokhara’s own flowers brighten city’s Tihar
Tihar, the country’s second biggest festival, began on Saturday, bringing festive excitement to the tourism city of Pokhara. Unlike in the past when up to 80 per cent of flowers were imported, this year Pokhara’s own production is expected to fully meet the local demand. With growing interest in flower farming and support from the local government, Pokhara has become self-reliant in producing sayapatri (marigold) and makhamali (globe amaranth) flowers used during Tihar.
Govt to end contracts of 50 road projects
The process has begun to terminate an additional 50 long-stalled contracts for road and bridge construction projects that have remained incomplete for years despite agreements being signed. Under the Pushpalal (Mid-Hill) Highway Project and the Department of Roads, the Road Division Offices under the Federal Road Supervision and Monitoring Offices in Kathmandu, Itahari, Janakpur, Pokhara, and Surkhet have initiated the termination process for 50 non-performing contracts. The process to terminate 17 long-pending contracts was initiated on Friday, and one non-performing contract on Saturday.
Banke farmers harvesting paddy
Farmers in Banke are now busy harvesting paddy using modern machines. With the end of the monsoon and favourable weather conditions, farmers in the district have intensified their paddy harvesting activities.
Humla hotels earn nearly Rs. 70m during Kailash–Manasarovar season
By Rajan RawatHumla, Oct. 20: Hotels in Simkot and Hilsa have earned almost Rs. 70 million during this year’s Kailash–Manasarovar pilgrimage season, which lasted for four and a half months.According to Mim Bahadur Tamang, president of the Hotel Entrepreneurs’ Association, 6,407 pilgrims, mostly from India, along with other foreign visitors, travelled through Humla for the Kailash–Manasarovar route from April to first week of July.On average, each pilgrim spent a minimum of Rs. 10,500 on accommodation in Hilsa and Simkot.Tamang’s own Hotel Potal earned more than Rs 7.8 million this season. There are currently eight hotels in Simkot and four in Hilsa that cater to pilgrims. Hotel owners say earnings ranged from Rs. 1.05 million to Rs. 7.875 million depending on capacity. Hotel entrepreneur Karma Lama of Hilsa said the season has brought strong recovery for the tourism sector after the COVID-19 downturn.China reopened the Hilsa border point on 18 Baisakh 2081, but had initially barred Indian pilgrims from travelling to Kailash. Permission was granted from April 30, 2024 after which large numbers of pilgrims began entering via Nepalgunj, then flying or trekking to Simkot and onward to Hilsa. The Humla route is one of the shortest for the pilgrimage.
Capital expenditure remains meagre 4.7% in first three months of new fiscal
Spending of the budget allocated to development projects (capital expenditure) in the first trimester of the current Fiscal Year 2025/26 has remained the lowest in the last four years. According to the Financial Comptroller General Office (FCGO), capital expenditure has staggered at 4.7 per cent (Rs. 19 billion) of the total allocation of Rs. 407.88 billion only to outperform 3.9 per cent of 2021/22. Then, the government could spend Rs. 14.8 billion against the total capital allocation of Rs. 378.09 billion.
Global IME Bank Honored with Global Finance “Best Bank Award”
Global IME Bank was recognized as the Best Bank in Nepal 2025 based on several key parameters, including reliability, financial resource mobilization, expansion of access, establishment of strategic relationships, innovation of professional and customer-friendly services, and credit rating performance, according to press note issued by the Global IME Bank.
Gold, silver price falls
The price of gold has decreased by Rs 4,800 per tola (11.66 grams) today in the domestic market.
Nepali consumers flock to Indian market in Sunauli for Tihar
The number of Nepali consumers shopping in the Indian market of Sunauli, just across the border in Rupandehi, has been steadily increasing on the eve of Tihar festival. The hustle and bustle that started during Dashain has now intensified.
TDF will be made more effective, says Minister Ghising
Minister for Urban Development Kul Man Ghising has said that the Town Development Fund (TDF) will be made effective by expanding its jurisdiction and investment scope. Minister Ghising, who also oversees the portfolios of the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, and the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport, said that the Fund under the Ministry of Urban Development would not remain idle but would be mobilised to invest in areas that ensure economic returns.
Demand for twinkling lights declines
As the Tihar festival draws closer, people across the country are busy cleaning, decorating, and lighting up their homes with flowers and gleaming lights. However, traders said
Govt moves to terminate long-stalled projects
The government has initiated the process to terminate several long-stalled contracts for road and bridge construction projects that have remained incomplete for years, despite signing agreements.
Jerry on Top, a film based on Everest story, releases in cinemas from today
While Sagarmatha (Mt Everest) has long been a subject of documentaries and Hollywood movies, Jerry on Top, a Nepali feature film using the mountain as the core of its story, has officially released in cinema halls across the country from today.
Gold price up by 7,100 per tola
According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers' Association, the price of hallmark gold has been determined at Rs 258,000 per tola today, which was traded at Rs 250,900 per tola on Thursday.
