Kathmandu, Mar. 11: The Ministry of Home Affairs has finally allowed to run night business and hotels round the clock.
The Ministry issued a notice on Wednesday deciding to remove the time limit for night business and allow it to operate 24 hours a day, with given mandate and protocols.

Joint Secretary and Spokesperson for the Ministry Phadinda Mani Pokhrel, who is also the coordinator of a 14-member task force formed to prepare report on opening night business, said now all night businesses including hotel, restaurant, dance, rehearsal club, lounge bar will be able to operate 24 hours a day. Different criteria and protocols have been suggested to abide by the operator before the operation of the business, he said. With the decision, every night lover can visit Thamel, Durbar Marga and any business hub also for night shopping and enjoyment, he said.

Earlier, the police administration had banned any night business after 10 pm. Entrepreneurs had been complaining that economic activities had slowed down when the business was closed before midnight.
The operation of the night business, Home Minister Bal Krishna Khand had formed the task force a month ago.

Based on the study report of the task force, it has been recommended to allow night business to operate overnight.
As per the suggestion of the task force, the government has decided to keep the night business open overnight by setting specific standards.

According to the criteria, it is not allowed to dance in such a way as to display obscenity in dance bars and dance venues.
“Dance performers must perform skill-based dance,” the standard said, adding that “healthy entertainment must be provided to all guests who come to serve as clients of internal and external tourism.”According to the law, business should be run in such a way as to support economic growth by providing entertainment only after obtaining permission.

Workers working in night businesses should be provided with uniforms, dinner and transportation to their homes according to their position.
“After receiving the service, if the customer requests to take it from the place of business to his home, the concerned businessman will have to arrange for a paid vehicle,” the standard states.
It is also said that child labour cannot be used in tourism, hotels, restaurants and recreational areas. In addition, children under the age of 18 should be barred from entering businesses such as dance, restaurant, bar, live band, lounge bar, pub, club and disco as customers.

The standard states that all businesses should not be unnecessarily bothering customers by unnecessarily billing contrary to the set price list of their business.
Similarly, it has been made mandatory to have maintain peace and order and maintain sound control system and maintain at least 30 days’ CCTV footage records and surveillance through the CCTVs.

Meanwhile, former president and currently chief advisor to Thamel Tourism Development Council (TTDC) Dr. Ram Sharan Thapaliya, welcoming the government move, said that the decision was historic which will help in reviving all slacked tourism business of Thamel and Durbar Marga and outside the Valley.

He said that directly or indirectly more than 15,000 workers and other 30 well equipped lounges have been in operation in Thamel and Durbar Marg. Out of them, 25 are alone operating in Thamel. Opening the night business, will not only help the businessmen alone, but it will also help in collecting a good revenue to the government, Dr. Thapaliya said. After the decision, the night businesses will remain open till 4:00 am every day.

After more than five to six years of continuous effort and coordination with government, the government has opened it finally making everything easier to night life lovers, Dr. Thapaliya said.