Nepal's New Chinese-Built Airport Underutilized and Raising Debt Concerns
-
Nepal's Pokhara airport built with $215 million loan from China is underutilized, no international flights yet.
-
Airport was touted as part of China's Belt and Road Initiative but Nepal says it's not part of BRI.
-
Pokhara airport fate similar to Pakistan's Gwadar port which left Islamabad with crushing Chinese debt.
-
Airport built with imported Chinese materials, technology, echoes poor quality BRI projects.
-
With no passengers to repay loans, Nepal bound to struggle when repayment starts in 2026.