Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Khadak Raj Poudel has said that Nepal Airlines Corporation is in a serious financial and managerial crisis and should be moved from a 'ventilator' to at least a 'ward'. Speaking at a program organized at the corporation's headquarters on the occasion of the corporation's 68th anniversary, Tourism Minister Poudel also warned of taking strict steps to reform the corporation. The minister, who has been aggressive about the current situation of the corporation, gave clear instructions to employees who do not work to resign if there is no improvement. Addressing the program, the minister announced that he will not put pressure on political appointments, transfers or any other work within the corporation during his tenure. 'I will not interfere in anything because of me. I will not tell anyone to give a job whether they want it or not,' the tourism minister said. 'If anyone from the bottom to the top heard that this person was recruited by the minister, they would come and hang me.' The board of directors of the corporation He expressed his commitment to 'not interfere' in any decision as long as it focuses on the national interest and that the committee will remain completely autonomous and independent.

The minister said that the corporation has reached this state due to past political interference and recruitment of incompetent people. Stressing that the practice of making the corporation a political 'recruitment center' should end, he said, 'Let's move the Nepal Airlines Corporation, which is on a ventilator, to the ward at least this year, and take it home next year. The organization is sick, friends.'

Stating that the corporation is drowning in liabilities (debts) of more than 56 billion due to past scandals and inaction, he questioned how an organization that earns only 3 percent profit by taking loans at 10 percent interest can operate. 'It was a short-sighted decision to bear a huge burden of debt just because it got money, now its proper management is necessary,' he said.

The minister warned that if the corporation cannot make progress even with a supportive government and a comfortable environment, all employees should go home. 'This is not a place to work or to be employed.' "A real leader is one who can overcome difficult situations," he said, "If it is not possible to work even with this ease, then he should resign." 

The minister urged everyone to work unitedly by abandoning the tendency of dragging one's feet and cutting things within the organization.  He said that the ministry will pay attention to the career development of honest, moral and responsible employees, but strict action will be taken against those who engage in nepotism, favoritism and irregularities.  Warning that he will firmly stand as an obstacle if there is any smell of corruption or irregularities in the corporation, the minister appealed to everyone to be honest for the revival of the national flag carrier .