Citing the remoteness of Karnali as the main obstacle to its development, a sub-committee formed by the Development Committee to study how to achieve broader development of the region stated that improving the road network should be given the first priority as the district headquarters of Humla and Dolpa were yet to be linked by roads. The report has also emphasized the need to upgrade the roads in Jumla, Mugu and Kalikot.

The Karnali region makes up 14.5 percent of the country’s land area and is home to 2 percent of the population. It encompasses the districts of Dolpa, Humla, Mugu, Jumla and Kalikot.

The region’s backwardness is clearly shown by its position on the human development index (HDI). According to HDI Report 2014 prepared by the National Planning Commission and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Kalikot and Humla had the lowest HDI in the country in 2011. Another district Mugu is among the 10 districts having the lowest HDI.

The report prepared by the House panel led by lawmaker Jeevan Bahadur Shahi has stated that a study should be carried out of the region’s hydropower potential as it is rich in water resources. A transmission line connected to the national grid should also be constructed along the Karnali river basin, it said.

Meanwhile, the report has also recommended setting up a medicinal herb processing centre and developing the region as a herb centre because of its huge potential in this sector. Likewise, the development of agro-forestry and horticulture has been urged as the region is a large producer of apple, walnut, peach and olive. “As all the five districts are renowned as fruit and food producers, they should be protected and marketed well,” states the report. Though the region is not suitable for paddy cultivation, buckwheat, millet, barley, bean, potato and pulse, among other crops, can be grown here.  With regard to tourism, the panel has recommended establishing infrastructure to develop adventure tourism products like heli-skiing, river rafting, hiking and kayaking. Similarly, the parliamentary committee has urged the government to sign an agreement with China to facilitate travel from Humla to Purang County of Tibet to promote religious tourism over the route.

The sub-committee has also recommended transforming the Karnali Development Commission, which has been formed for broader development of the region, into an independent body.