Kathmandu – In a surprise announcement, the Government of Nepal has declared a public holiday across the nation for tomorrow to mark the arrival of the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, who is visiting on a two-day trip.
The decision to declare the holiday was made during a Cabinet meeting held on Monday, as confirmed by Rekha Sharma, the Government’s Spokesperson and Minister for Communication and Information Technology.
“To welcome the Emir of Qatar on his official visit to Nepal, the Cabinet has decided to declare a nationwide public holiday tomorrow,” stated Minister Sharma while addressing the media.
Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the reigning monarch of the State of Qatar, is scheduled to land in Kathmandu on Tuesday for his two-day state visit to Nepal at the formal invitation of the Nepali government.
This will be the first visit by the Qatari Emir to Nepal since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1977.
The visit is expected to further strengthen the bilateral ties between the two nations across various sectors, including energy, investment, and labor migration.
While the Nepali government has not disclosed the Emir’s full itinerary, he is likely to meet with the country’s top leadership, including the President, Prime Minister, and other high-ranking officials, during his stay.
The declaration of a public holiday on such short notice has taken many by surprise, but it is a customary practice in Nepal to announce national holidays to welcome heads of state and dignitaries on official visits.
With schools, offices, and businesses expected to remain closed tomorrow, the streets of Kathmandu and other major cities are likely to witness lighter traffic and fewer crowds as the nation prepares to receive the Qatari monarch.
