KATHMANDU, FEBRUARY 25

Lawmakers have urged the government to clarify its response following Nepal's inclusion in the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list.

Speaking during the Special Hour of the House of Representatives today, lawmaker Udaya Shumsher JBR pressed the government for a concrete plan to remove Nepal from the FATF grey list.

'Nepal's placement on the FATF grey list is primarily due to weak regulation of the cooperative sector. What steps is the government taking to strengthen oversight in this sector and ensure Nepal's swift removal from the list? Parliament must be informed,' he stated.

JBR further noted that Nepal holds a 'double B minus' credit rating, which is comparatively better than most South Asian countries, and emphasized the need to capitalize on this advantage.

He also raised concerns over the prolonged reconstruction of the Kanti Highway and urged the government to expedite repairs on the BP Highway, which suffered extensive damage due to floods and landslides triggered by incessant rains in late September last year.

Lawmaker JBR highlighted delays in several road construction projects and warned of potential flood and landslide risks due to unregulated road excavation. He called on the government to assess the damage caused by last year's monsoon disasters and accelerate reconstruction efforts.

Meanwhile, Nepal Communist Party (UML) lawmaker Thakur Prasad Gaire condemned the rampant corruption in the country, calling it a 'national disgrace.'

'Corruption, bribery, and the culture of commission-seeking have become pervasive. We must present hard facts in Parliament and create conditions for strict action against these issues,' Gaire asserted.

He stressed the need for a governance system rooted in accountability and social justice, adding that the UML was committed to leading Nepal towards socialism by ending political instability and lawlessness.

Similarly, Nepal Communist Party (Maoist Centre) lawmaker Rekha Sharma criticized the government for undermining parliamentary procedures through ordinances. She accused ministers of amending bills that had already been approved by parliamentary committees.

Lawmaker Basudev Ghimire underscored the economic potential of religious tourism and urged the government to promote Nepal's sacred sites, including Lumbini, Muktinath, Pathibhara, Pashupatinath, and Manakamana, through improved infrastructure development.

In a similar vein, lawmaker Mangal Prasad Gupta called for measures to mitigate flood risks in Krishnanagar Municipality-12, Kapilvastu district, while Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) lawmaker Anisha Nepali demanded the extension of Nepal's national electricity transmission line to Salyan.

Urgent Need for Timely Infrastructure Development

Several lawmakers raised concerns over delays in physical infrastructure projects, citing the hardships faced by the public due to stalled construction works.

Among those voicing their concerns during the Zero Hour of the House of Representatives were lawmakers Bhagawati Chaudhary, Bhanubhakta Joshi, Man Bahadur Gurung, Bijula Rayamajhi, Manish Jha, Mahesh Basnet, Madhav Sapkota, Mukta Kumari Yadav, Menaka Kumari Pokharel, Metmani Chaudhary, Raghuji Panta, Rama Koirala Poudel, Ram Kumar Rai, and Rukmani Rana.

Additionally, lawmakers Maina Karki, Rana Kumari Balampaki Magar, Ranendra Baraili, Ranju Kumari Jha, Rajendra Kumar KC, Ram Krishna Yadav, Ram Shankar Yadav, Rupa Sosi (Chaudhary), Laxmi Tiwari, and Lal Prasad Sanwa Limbu, among others, called the government's attention to various public concerns.