Kathmandu, Aug. 26 -- It has become aclicheto say that every crisis comes with opportunities. But that does not mean it is not true. It is up to us to grab that chance.

The 2015 earthquake gave Nepal the opening to build back better, and the reconstruction of monuments did revive traditional building practices. The five-month blockade forced Nepal to look for alternative trade routes, even though the trans-Himalayan corridor is mostly confined to rhetoric so far.

The COVID-19 crisis is also an opportunity for a 'new normal' in agriculture, food self-reliance, more sustainable tourism, and reduction of urban air pollution. But the temptation is to go back to business as usual - and we probably will. But this crisis is a wakeup call.

As ...