Kathmandu — During a meeting of the International Relations and Tourism Committee of the House of Representatives on Sunday, Member of Parliament Prem Suwal raised serious concerns over the Nepal Civil Aviation Authority Bill, 2081. According to him, certain provisions in the bill appear to pave the way for the privatization of government-owned aviation services, which he argues goes against the long-term national interest.
Aviation Privatization Threatens Sovereignty, Says Suwal
Prem Suwal, a leader of the Nepal Workers and Peasants Party, argued that aviation, being a sensitive and strategic sector, must never be handed over to private entities through management contracts, share issuance, or outright sale. He warned that such actions could jeopardize the sovereignty of the state.
“If the government begins to hand over every public service to private entities, a day may come when even Singha Durbar will be operated by a foreign company,” Suwal remarked with pointed criticism. He added, “This bill undermines the government’s role and opens the door for private companies to operate national services, which is incompatible with the principles of democracy and national sovereignty.”
Call for Government Accountability and Policy Revision
Suwal emphasized the need for a strong government presence in sectors that directly affect public welfare. “If the government chooses privatization simply because it claims to be incapable, we may soon witness a few powerful corporate groups running the country,” he cautioned.
According to Suwal, maintaining state control over public services and essential infrastructure is crucial; otherwise, the country may face economic domination and political imbalance in the future. He called on all lawmakers to consider amendments to the bill, citing the clear trend toward privatization.
In his view, the path to improving national services like aviation lies not in privatization, but in enhancing the government’s own capacity. Suwal concluded that if the government becomes more competent, responsible, and transparent, there is ample room to reform and improve civil aviation services.
