The Nepal government is all set to run immigration office in Korala, a strategic border point between Nepal and China in Lomanthang of upper Mustang.

Transmission lines have recently connected Korala with the national grid while Nepal Telecom started providing cell phone and internet services, paving the way to establish immigration office.

According to the District Administration Office in Mustang, the government is preparing to operate the immigration office before Dashain, a major Hindu festival that lies in October second week this year.

“Preparations to set up immigration office in the Korala border point are at the final stage,” said Janak Raj Panta, chief district officer of Mustang. “The immigration office building has already been connected with the national grid. Works are on to install internet service and set up other required devices.”

Panta added that they are talking to the Ministry of Home Affairs to finalise Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak’s visit in Korala to initiate the immigration service.

A 10-room prefabricated building has been constructed in front of China’s customs office for the use of immigration office and security check post. The Gandaki provincial government constructed the building.

According to Tashi Narbu Gurung, chairman of Lomanthang Rural Municipality, a technical team from Baglung branch of Nepal Telecom set up a tower at Nechungdanda just above Chhoser in Lomanthang-1.

Nepal Intermodal Transport Development Board prepared a Detailed Project Report (DPR) to assess the geographical situation and build dry port in around 1,000 ropanis of land in Korala and Nechung, which is around 12 kilometres below the Nepal-China border point. Electricity and internet facilities have been extended to Korala as part of the DPR implementation.

Chinese authorities have already constructed the necessary infrastructures in the Korala border point area, including the customs office, quarantine office, employee’s residence building, laboratory, warehouse, truck and container parking area and security check post.

Korala, which lies at an altitude of around 4,650 metres above sea level, is a major border point between Nepal and China. Chinese authorities had closed the border passes in January 2020 to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, which hugely affected the Nepalis living in the remote mountain villages close to Tibet.

In November 2023, the officials of Nepal and China jointly opened Korala border point amid a function. The local people living near the Nepal-China border were relieved from the hardships caused due to the prolonged border closure. The border closure had affected a large number of Nepali traders, seasonal workers and residents of several mountain districts. People of the settlements near the Chinese border had difficulties managing essential supplies as the markets in Tibet were closed to them.

Villagers living near the China border are dependent on Tibet for essential goods as much of the rugged terrain is yet to be connected by Nepal’s national road network. Tibet is also the major market to sell their products ranging from medicinal herbs to farm animals.

China allows trade and transit through six border points—Tatopani-Khasa, Rasuwa-Kerung, Yari (Humla)-Purang, Olangchung Gola-Riwu, Kimathanka-Riwu and Nechung (Mustang)-Lizi—for bilateral trade with Nepal.

Korala is the fourth border point that Beijing has reopened after the Rasuwa-Kerung, Tatopani-Khasa and Yari (Humla)-Purang, which had remained closed since 2020 after the Covid-19 pandemic struck. Korala appears to be the best location for developing a port after Keyrung and Tatopani, which was severely impacted by the Gorkha Earthquake in 2015.

Nepal and China had signed a Trade and Transit Agreement in 2016. As per the agreement’s protocol, anyone can travel up to the dry ports of both the countries freely. However, only the local residents of Mustang district can enter China with the permit document issued by the district administration office of Mustang now.

“All Nepalis can freely cross the border by taking an entry pass once the immigration office comes into operation in Korala,” said Panta. He added that Mustang locals import goods from Tibetan markets and trade such goods on Nepali sides.

Authorities say they believe that the establishment of immigration office in Korala will be helpful to promote tourism in Nepal. The provincial headquarters of Gandaki Province and major tourist destination of Pokhara is 273 kilometres from Korala.