Stakeholders have said that due to the recent geopolitical tensions, a serious crisis may emerge in the country's economy and energy sector, and its impact will reach the kitchen. War is currently ongoing in West Asian countries, which are the main sources of remittances and fuel entering the country. Therefore, the Strait of Hormuz waterway, which supplies 20 percent of the world's total fuel consumption, is blocked.

In an interaction on the topic of 'Problems of West Asia and their impact on the Nepali economy' organized by the Society of Economic Journalists of Nepal (SEJON), experts in the field of economics and immigration drew the government's attention to taking preparatory work to avoid the crisis. Experts also said that the main challenge and priority of the new government is to solve the country's energy crisis and food security.

Experts say that the global energy crisis is deepening amid US-Israel-Iran tensions, and countries dependent on remittance-based economies and imported fuel will be most affected.

It has been said that if the conflict in West Asia increases, there will be a shortage of petroleum products, Nepali workers will lose jobs, and remittances will decrease, which will have a negative impact on the Nepali people's livelihood.

Former Executive Director of Nepal Rastra Bank Dr. Gunakar Bhatta said that the recent tensions in West Asia may add challenges to energy crisis and food security in Nepal. 'Nepal should now pay attention to energy and food security, and the government should pay special attention to maintaining stocks of daily essentials including petroleum products, and invest in them,' he said.

Bhatta stressed that the next government should make its plans and programs focusing on the growing energy crisis and food security. He said that when there is a shortage in India, the impact will automatically be felt in the Nepali market.

He argues that the government should increase investment in infrastructure for fuel and food stocks even if it reduces investment in other sectors. He said that a 10 percent increase in the price of a barrel in the international market would lead to an increase in inflation by 0.4 percent, and overall economic growth would decrease by 0.15 percent. He said that since all sectors including transportation, wholesale and retail, tourism, and construction are affected, the risk of the country's economic growth being affected has increased. One-third of the fuel and food consumed in the country is imported.

As tensions in the Gulf countries increase, challenges may arise in remittances, employment, and the security of Nepali workers, said Rameshwar Nepal, an expert in the field of labor migration. Stating that workers working in West Asia are under great stress, he said that the government is unable to assure workers in the affected countries of their safety.

'In the course of the developing events, the government was able to immediately 'respond' to Nepali workers, but it could not reassure them. When the situation has reached a point where workers in sensitive areas need to be rescued, the government cannot just tell its citizens to 'stay safe',' he said. 'According to the information received, migrant workers are among those killed in the conflict so far. Migrant workers are being affected the most as the countries concerned have failed to provide adequate security.'