Authorities in Nepal have allowed Nepali citizens in the country to go abroad using the chartered flights that are being arranged to rescue foreigners who are stranded in the country. 

The government has earlier permitted a number of chartered flights for foreigners following the requests from their respective embassies. International flights have remained suspended since May 6 as the coronavirus cases surged exponentially. 

Many Nepali students and workers who came to Nepal for vacation and festivals are stuck. The decision was taken to facilitate their return. 

“Although the government’s priority will be to send foreign nationals safely back to their countries on special flights, Nepalis also can leave the country on such flights, space permitting,” Buddhi Sagar Limichhane, joint secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation.

Despite restrictions on flights, the government has allowed ten flights in a week to ferry Indians to Saudi Arabia. The relaxation was provided as thousands of Indians were using Kathmandu as the Transit point for the Gulf country. 

Two weekly flights to New Delhi are also permitted. 

The Nepal government is also worried about its migrant laborers that are stuck in Nepal. The remittance from expatriates is a major source of dollar incomes for the government. 

(SAM)