Himal Press 
POKHARA: The Gandaki Provincial Government has unveiled ambitious policies and programs for the fiscal year 2026/27, prioritizing tourism, agriculture, industry, infrastructure and youth development while introducing several new initiatives.
Presenting the government’s annual policy document in the meeting of the Gandaki Provincial Assembly on Tuesday, Province Chief Dilli Raj Bhatta announced a range of measures aimed at boosting economic growth and improving public services.
Tourism continues to be the province’s key focus. The provincial government has adopted an “One District, One Tourist Destination” policy and set a target of doubling the number of visitors from India and China within the next five years.
The provincial government, in partnership with the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) and the private sector, is also launching a campaign titled “Visit Gandaki: Enjoy Nature and Culture” to province in the region in the internationl market.
Likewise, the provincial government is also implementing an integrated tourism development strategy following Pokhara’s designation as Nepal’s tourism capital. Several tourism projects, including the Round Fewa: View Fewa programme, will get continuity in the coming year, while new initiatives such as the Fewa Horizon Pedestrian Bridge and a feasibility study for a glass bridge have been proposed.
The government also plans to develop a religious tourism circuit linking major pilgrimage sites, including Damodar Kunda, Muktinath, Galeshwor, Panchakot, Devghat and Trivenidham. Adventure tourism activities such as skydiving, heli-skiing, bungee jumping and high-altitude cycling are also in the government’s priorities.
The provincial government has also announced plans to legalize cannabis cultivation for medicinal and industrial purposes from the next fiscal year. It also plans to endorse legislation regulating cannabis farming and the branding, distribution and regulation of locally produced alcoholic beverages.
To promote industrial growth, the government will bring into operation the Lokaha Khola and Punditar Industrial Areas. Likewise, it plans to work in coordination with the federal government to revive the Gorkhakali Rubber Industry and Bhrikuti Paper Mill.
The “Return to Village” program will encourage youths working abroad or living in cities to return to rural areas for commercial farming and agro-industries. Interest subsidies on business loans will be provided to participants.
The province will also implement the “One Health Policy and Health in All Policies” approach and expand specialized healthcare services in provincial hospitals.
In education, the government plans to improve school infrastructure, strengthen teacher training, promote school consolidation, improve management of teacher records and continue the “Earn While Learning” program.
The government has pledged to prioritise the construction of key bridges and roads, improve road safety through safety audits and awareness campaigns, and connect remote administrative centers, including Chumanubri Rural Municipality in Gorkha and Narpa Bhumi Rural Municipality in Manang, to the road network.
The province will continue its “One House, One Tap” program and prioritize water purification under the “Clean Water, Healthy Life” campaign. More than 166,000 households in Gandaki already have private water connections.
The government also plans to prepare a Digital Gandaki Master Plan, strengthen e-governance, and expand the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in public administration to improve service delivery and transparency.
