KATHMANDU: Prime Minister Balendra Shah (Balen) left Kathmandu for Pokhara by road on Friday morning as part of his planned visit to Mustang.
Shah is travelling in his official vehicle and is expected to reach Pokhara on Friday afternoon before continuing his journey to Mustang.
However, security agencies in both Kaski and Mustang say they have not received formal information about the Prime Minister’s visit.
Kaski Police spokesperson DSP Birendra Kumar Paswan said neither the Prime Minister’s Office nor the Ministry of Home Affairs had officially informed the police about Shah’s visit. He said police learned about the planned visit through media reports but had received no formal communication.
Yadu Adhikari, president of the Rastriya Swatantra Party’s Kaski chapter, also said the party had not received any official information about the Prime Minister’s visit.
Similarly, Mustang Police Chief DSP Ramchandra Tiwari said he had not received information regarding the VVIP visit, although he added that security arrangements could be made if necessary.
Despite the lack of formal communication to security agencies, a source confirmed that Shah is scheduled to visit Pokhara on Friday.
According to the source, Shah is expected to spend Friday night at a resort located in the foothills of Annapurna Rural Municipality in Kaski. The resort has reportedly been booked for the Prime Minister, who is expected to reach the property at around 3 pm.
Located about 4.5 kilometres from Pokhara, the resort offers views of Machhapuchhre and the Annapurna mountain range.
