Nepali Communist Party leader and former finance minister Barshaman Pun has suggested Prime Minister Balendra Shah move forward with various development projects, including operating the Bhairahawa International Airport.

Prime Minister Shah held discussions with the members of the House of Representatives elected from the Lumbini province on Monday. During the discussion, Pun drew the prime minister's attention to ongoing development projects in the province and his own electoral constituency in Rolpa and urged prioritising a few new projects.

According to the Pun’s private secretariat, he stressed the need to immediately operate the Bhairahawa Regional International Airport and urged the prime minister to advance talks with India regarding air routes for international flights.

"There should be no further delay in regularising international flights from Bhairahawa Airport and opening doors to tourism possibilities by establishing a labour desk there," Pun told the prime minister.

He pointed out the strategic importance of the road that connects to the border with the northern neighbour, China. He requested the government to move forward with the Madi Multipurpose Hydroelectric Project in Rolpa, which remains stalled. The project is being jointly developed by the government-owned Hydro Electricity and Investment Development Company Limited and China's Power Construction Corporation. The project was intended to generate electricity by damming the Madi River.

Pun also emphasised the need to advance the Gandaki Economic Triangle project, which was included in the budget for the fiscal year 2021-22 during his tenure as finance minister. He said implementing the integrated development concept with Bharatpur, Butwal, and Pokhara as the three key areas, in partnership with the private sector, could prove to be a "game-changer" for the Nepali economy.

Under the triangle project, the Narayanghat–Butwal section was to be developed as a hub for construction materials and heavy industries, the Mugling–Pokhara section for agriculture and food processing industries, and the Pokhara–Butwal section as the centre for industries related to electrical equipment, shoes, textiles, carpets, and household goods and services. The project was cancelled by the former KP Sharma Oli government.

Pun also proposed advancing an integrated development project for agricultural production in the fertile lands of Lumbini province. This would, he said, include irrigation, fertilisers, seeds, modern agricultural tools, and market management.