Business Hit Hard by Social Media Shutdown, Entrepreneurs Demand Reversal of Decision

Pokhara

Nepali entrepreneurs in Gandaki Province have demanded that the government immediately withdraw its decision to shut down social media platforms such as Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram, saying the move has severely affected business and the tourism sector of the province.

The International Nepali Young Entrepreneurs Federation (FINE) Gandaki submitted a memorandum to Chief District Officer Rudradevi Sharma, stating that the shutdown has impacted the overall economy, disrupted the daily lives of thousands of citizens, and threatened livelihoods.

Led by federation president Amarjung Gurung and general secretary Chiranjeevi Gautam, the delegation urged the government to reverse the decision without delay. The memorandum highlighted that “hundreds of income sources dependent on social media have been disrupted, affecting the livelihoods of millions. Tourists have stopped booking trips, while those who already booked have started to cancel.”

The federation further noted that global business connections and communications have also been affected. General Secretary Gautam said that while they were not opposed to regulating social media through proper legal frameworks, they disagreed with shutting it down without adequate legal grounds or diplomatic efforts.

“Restricting citizens’ freedom of expression and right to information goes against the rule of law and democratic values,” Gautam said. He added that since a bill on social media regulation is already under parliamentary consideration, the government should not have relied on an outdated law from 2006 to impose such restrictions.

Federation President Gurung demanded the immediate withdrawal of the decision and urged the government to “begin the regulation process through diplomatic initiatives instead of undermining livelihoods and crippling the economy.”

FINE Gandaki spokesperson Krishna Acharya said that the decision has particularly affected trekking tourism, just as the season was about to begin. He explained that most communication and business dealings were carried out through WhatsApp and Facebook, and with those platforms down, trade connections have been severed. He lamented, “Tourists are now asking, ‘Why should we visit a country where social media doesn’t even work?’”