MUSTANG: A high-level team from the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Department of Immigration visited the Korala border on Monday to assess its infrastructure and potential for trade and tourism.
The team, including Home Secretary Rameshwar Dangal and Immigration Department Director General Ramchandra Tiwari, traveled from Pokhara to Jomsom and then proceeded to Korala border. They met with Lhoghekar Damodarkunda Rural Municipality Chairperson Lopsang Chomfel Bista and Korala Immigration Office Chief Pravesh Budhuwal to gather information about the border’s operations.
The delegation also inspected the temporary building of the Korala Immigration Office and reviewed the Mustang Customs Office and Armed Police Force border outpost in Lomanthang-2, Nhechung. Customs chief Ramesh Khadka briefed the team on operational challenges.
Preliminary discussions were held on relocating the high-altitude immigration office at 4,610 meters above sea level to a location near Nhechung Customs, allowing integrated management of customs, immigration, dry port, and security posts to improve efficiency.
Chairperson Bista suggested developing Korala as a tourism gateway, with local issuance of Chinese visas to facilitate Nepalese travelers. He also requested the removal of entry fees collected from foreign tourists in Upper Mustang.
Home Secretary Dangal assured that the government is committed to developing Korala as a full-fledged international border. The government has allocated over Rs 30 million in the current fiscal year for construction of a permanent immigration office building.
“This border has already seen the movement of Chinese goods via customs. Our next focus will be on developing all infrastructure, making immigration procedures smoother, and linking Korala to Kailash, Shigatse, and Lhasa tourism routes,” Dangal said.
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