August 25: In the last fiscal year laptops worth Rs 7.72 billion have been imported in…
August 25: In the last fiscal year laptops worth Rs 7.72 billion have been imported in…
August 25: If there is something often repeated in political speeches and government documents in Nepal, it is 'good governance'.…
August 25: Chief Executive Officer of Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) Chandra Singh Saud has resigned from his post following accusation of buying shares of a company…
August 25: Local authorities of Kathmandu Valley have lifted the restriction imposed on movement of private and public vehicles after 8:00 pm in the…
August 24: Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has started taking action against unannounced power cuts.…
August 24: The government’s negligence has caused delay in purchase of subsidized sugar.…
August 24: Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has increased the price of petroleum products effective from August…
August 24: Nepal Telecommunication Authority (NTA) has started a feasibility study for assembling mobile phones in Nepal.…
August 23: The Office of the Auditor General has raised serious questions over the legitimacy of the Investment…
August 23: The Office of the Auditor General (OAG) has raised concern regarding the delay in the transfer of ownership of the Khimti Hydropower Project.…
August 23: Thulo.Com, an e-commerce market, along with Enterprise for Management, Economic Reform and Gender Equality (EMERGE) is implementing a project ‘Fostering Resilience of Women-Led Businesses and Consumers’ with support from USAID’s Tayar Nepal - Improved Disaster Risk Management…
August 23: Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) is preparing to launch the ‘Bright and Clean City Campaign’ with the objective of illuminating and beautifying the cities across the…
August 23: An additional 200,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines have arrived in Nepal.…
August 22: The 58th annual report of the Office of the Auditor General (OAG) published by the Auditor General reveals a surge in financial irregularities and anomalies.…
August 22: The data published by the Department of Customs shows that Nepal imported routers worth Rs 2.16 billion in the last fiscal year.…
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Consumption of laptops has increased in Nepal due to the new environment created by the lockdown.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The increasing trend of online classrooms and zoom conferences, remittance inflow, access to electricity in rural areas, increasing use of laptops in teaching methods, increasing practice of online version in government services and information technology friendly society have led to increase in imports of laptops in Nepal.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">About 93 percent of Nepal's laptops are imported from China, while other major countries are Malaysia, Singapore, the United States, Indonesia and Japan.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In the Fiscal Year 2077/78, the government collected revenue of Rs. 992.67 million from laptops import.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> Import Data of Laptop in Fiscal Year 2077/78:</span></span></span></span></p> <table cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse:collapse"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:1px solid black; height:68px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Countries</span></span></strong></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:1px solid black; height:68px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Quantity in Numbers</span></span></strong></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:1px solid black; height:68px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Imported Amount in Thousand</span></span></strong></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:1px solid black; height:68px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Revenue amount in Thousand</span></span></strong></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:1px solid black; height:68px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Import Percentage</span></span></strong></span></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">China</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">130,965</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">4,241,644</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">927,725</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">93.17</span></span></span></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Malaysia</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">4,244</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">249,647</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">32,434</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">3.21</span></span></span></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Singapore</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">1,058</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">69,403</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">8,723</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">0.89</span></span></span></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">USA</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">520</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">43,528</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">4,596</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">0.56</span></span></span></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Indonesia</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">143</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">14,024</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">1,823</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">0.18</span></span></span></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Japan</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">254</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">13,732</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">1,786</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">0.18</span></span></span></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">India</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">136</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">9,654</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">1,265</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">0.12</span></span></span></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Vietnam</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">182</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">8,505</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">1,106</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">0.11</span></span></span></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Thailand</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">134</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">7,711</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">1,026</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">0.10</span></span></span></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Taiwan; China</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">108</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">6,751</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">878</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">0.09</span></span></span></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">South Korea</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">229</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">19,117</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">762</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">0.25</span></span></span></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">UAE</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">113</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">4,883</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">675</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">0.06</span></span></span></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:50px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Hongkong; China</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:50px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">117</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:50px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">4,697</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:50px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">611</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:50px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">0.06</span></span></span></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">UK</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">43</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">3,975</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">328</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">0.05</span></span></span></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Philippines</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">65</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">2,494</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">324</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">0.03</span></span></span></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Australia</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">54</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">2,219</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">297</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">0.03</span></span></span></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Egypt</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">38</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">1,547</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">201</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">0.02</span></span></span></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Germany</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">25</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">1,405</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">136</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">0.02</span></span></span></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Poland</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">54</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">5,357</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">44</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">0.07</span></span></span></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Switzerland</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">7</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">1,274</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">10</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">0.02</span></span></span></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Others</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">958</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">60,790</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">7,921</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">0.78</span></span></span></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Total</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">139,447</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">7,772,358</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">992,670</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">100.00</span></span></span></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="5" style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><em><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Source: Customs Department</span></span></em></span></span></p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-25', 'modified' => '2021-08-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13612', 'image' => '20210825011803_mi_gaming_laptop_2019_image_1565003115644.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-25 13:17:08', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13866', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'OAG Report Paints Bleak Picture of Country's Fiscal Governance ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 25: If there is something often repeated in political speeches and government documents in Nepal, it is 'good governance'. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">August 25: If there is something often repeated in political speeches and government documents in Nepal, it is 'good governance'. But, the media reports coming daily and even the periodic reports by the government bodies have shown the opposite - bad governance has afflicted the system. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Last Friday, the Office of the Auditor General (OAG) unveiled its report of the fiscal year 2019/20, showing huge arrears totaling Rs 418.85 billion to be recovered by the government. It was a hefty spending but not recognized by law. Several purchases lacked proofs. There was no billing. It is sheer financial irregularity. As per the report, in the given fiscal year, the arrears grew by Rs 530 million. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The faulty spending behaviour has plagued our political sphere and bureaucracy and it's difficult to wipe out their nexus to ward off such financial anomalies. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">For any spending by the public offices including the ministries, departments, corporations, adherence to certain laws and rules is mandatory. But the report clearly indicates how the laws were disobeyed, creating anarchy in financial administration. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Who has major role behind such non-implementation of laws and rules? It is obvious that those in power/government along with bureaucracy, the permanent government, are responsible for it. The report shows how the ministries went extravagant to enfeeble the state treasury. Misuse of state coffers mounted. Undoubtedly, it will discourage the tax payers. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The OAG prepared separate auditing reports of the activities carried by the local level, provincial governments and federal government. It is one of the most comprehensive reports that brings financial facts and also recommends measures to various sectors of government. It has made aware the stakeholders that involve in public spending of the values of transparency and public accountability. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">This time, OAG has come up with new report- separate report on COVID-19 financial management. It is another interesting area of auditing as the management of COVID-19 had drawn huge criticism in view of financial irregularities. Then, the media were rife with the news about mishandling of COVID-19 in medical purchases. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">In the wake of gradual implementation of federalism in place with the three-tier of elections and three-tier of governments, people piled hope on the system- from smooth and prompt service delivery to initiation and acceleration of development activities. The local governments were hailed and hoped of delivering public service at people's doorstep. It was expected to free the people from sufferings of unitary system where even the financial authority and development works were guided by the centre. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">To everyone's dismay, the financial conduct of local levels, where it has been devolved financial, legal and administrative rights with new form of governance, has been exposed with biting reality- double the arrears of provincial and federal government as compared to the total spending. The OAG's 58th report mentioned that among the total financial transactions, the arrears in federal government stood at Rs 2.86 per cent (Rs 44 billion) while it was 2.74 per cent (Rs 6 billion) in province government and 5 per cent in the local government (Rs 40 billion). </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The leadership now must be aware how the truth exposed by the report has dashed the public hope and eroded public trust on political parties and bureaucracy. Both the political and bureaucratic leaderships are in urgent need to revive effective and smooth public financial management and fiscal federalism from the shambles. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Reading the OAG report fully, it is fair to say that good governance is not mere a jargon for political speech to provoke public and for official documents to lure readers, but is a common commitment and translation into action, especially the political parties and bureaucracy. Isn't the OAG report a wakeup call for us? </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Interestingly, as the OAG report covers the time led by the previous government, it is yet to see how the present government evaluates the report and makes its position. No political leaders who were in the previous government have spoken anything on such egregious financial aberration. Now, is the present government able to recover the arrears and committed not to repeating such recklessness and indiscipline that dented much the public financial management? </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Nepali Congress, Sekhar Koirala tweeted, "The OAG has made public its report. The amount of arrears and irregularities is increasing. The current government should take initiative on disposal of arrears and take action accordingly. If the government has will power, it can do both of these tasks." -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-25', 'modified' => '2021-08-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13611', 'image' => '20210825092703_OAG1629582841.4.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-25 09:26:11', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13865', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NEPSE CEO Saud Resigns ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 25: Chief Executive Officer of Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) Chandra Singh Saud has resigned from his post following accusation of buying shares of a company illegally. ', 'content' => '<p><img alt="" src="/app/webroot/userfiles/images/saud.jpg" style="height:364px; width:369px" /></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">August 25: Chief Executive Officer of Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) Chandra Singh Saud has resigned from his post following accusation of buying shares of a company illegally. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Saud has been accused of purchasing 10,000 units of shares of the Sarbottam Cement in the name of his wife, as the company was preparing to introduce general shares for listing. As an office bearer of NEPSE, Saud is reportedly not allowed to buy shares in the name of his family members. The matter is currently under investigation by officials of the Ministry of Finance. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Saud tendered his resignation to the chief of the Financial Sector Management and Institution Coordination Division of the ministry, Dirgha Raj Mainali on Tuesday, August 24.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Speaking at a news conference after tendering his resignation letter, Saud said he resigned from his post to cooperate with the investigation process. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">He also claimed that he has not done anything against the norms of CEO of NEPSE.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Ministry of Finance is also investigating irregularities against Bhishma Raj Dhungana, chairperson of the Securities Board of Nepal (SEBON). Dhungana is also accused of buying the shares of Sarbottam Cement in the name of his daughter. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Finance Committee of Parliament had directed the authorities concerned last Friday to take action against SEBON Chairperson Dhungana and CEO of NEPSE Saud after their involvement in illegal share trading was covered by various media. </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-25', 'modified' => '2021-08-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13610', 'image' => '20210825091640_nepse-live-shareprice.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-25 09:15:09', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13864', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Restriction on Movement of Vehicles after 8 pm Lifted in Kathmandu Valley ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 25: Local authorities of Kathmandu Valley have lifted the restriction imposed on movement of private and public vehicles after 8:00 pm in the Valley. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">August 25: Local authorities of Kathmandu Valley have lifted the restriction imposed on movement of private and public vehicles after 8:00 pm in the Valley. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A meeting of the chief district officers of the three districts in the valley – Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur – on Tuesday (August 24) decided to lift the restriction. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Chief District Officer of Kathmandu, Kali Prasad Parajuli, informed that the restriction on movement of private and public vehicles has been lifted from immediate effect. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Meanwhile, the prohibitory order has been extended till September 1 to prevent and control COVID-19 pandemic from spreading. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The district administration offices of Kathmandu valley had imposed the prohibitory order on April 29 to curb the second wave of coronavirus. The authorities have extended the order time and again but have relaxed the rules in recent weeks. </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-25', 'modified' => '2021-08-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13609', 'image' => '20210825090032_20200903113103_1599056781.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-25 08:59:13', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13863', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NEA to Stop Power Cuts without Prior Notice', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 24: Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has started taking action against unannounced power cuts. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">August 24: Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has started taking action against unannounced power cuts. After being re-appointed as the executive director of NEA, Kulman Ghising has taken initiative to resolve the problem of power cuts without any prior notice for the welfare of the consumers.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">NEA has taken initiatives to make the power supply regular and reliable, prevent leakage, maintain financial discipline and make its service effective. In the last one year, NEA has been cutting power supply without providing prior information. When consumers make calls to the 'no light' department, officials would respond rudely. Most of the time phone calls used to go unanswered, and if the call is answered, consumers wouldn't get reliable information. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The NEA management has made necessary efforts to improve service delivery by resolving such problems after receiving complaints from customers. NEA has given top priority to improve power supply and make service delivery quick and easy.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Ghising held a virtual meeting on Monday, August 24, with the Deputy Executive Director of the Directorate of Distribution and Customer Service, all seven provincial offices, provincial division offices and branch heads to discuss the problems faced by the consumers. He directed them to take strict measures in maintaining quality power supply, improve service and maintain good discipline.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">"In order to improve the service delivery and maintain good governance within the organization, change is needed in every individual's ethical conduct," he said. He urged the officials to undertake their work by displaying a high level of ethical behaviour and without coming under pressure from anyone. He also said customers should be provided with three-phase meters as soon as they demand it, and work should be started immediately to strengthen and upgrade transmission and distribution structures and scrap the agreement with inefficient contractors.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">"In order to control the expenses, the stock of goods should be reduced by making maximum use of the old goods in the store, control over the purchase of new goods, auction of useless goods and timely maintenance of transformers," said Ghising. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">NEA has also introduced new provisions to improve the conduct of its employees which would add additional financial burden to the organization.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-24', 'modified' => '2021-08-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13608', 'image' => '20210824023821_20210514031053_NEA.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-24 14:37:30', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13862', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Delays Procurement of Subsidized Sugar ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 24: The government’s negligence has caused delay in purchase of subsidized sugar. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">August 24: The government’s negligence has caused delay in purchase of subsidized sugar. Lack of coordination between the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, which is responsible for giving permission to procure sugar at subsidized rate, and the Ministry of Finance, which releases budget, is the main reason behind the delay in procurement.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">According to the Salt Trading Corporation, which has been given the responsibility of buying subsidized sugar, they had sent a letter to the MoICS about a year ago seeking permission to buy sugar. At that time, due to the negligence of the Ministry of Commerce, the STC could not get permission to buy sugar. After a delay of about eight months, the Ministry of Commerce had sent a letter to the Ministry of Finance last April to allow the STC to buy 30,000 tons of sugar. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Urmila KC, under secretary at the MoICS, said that the Ministry of Finance is yet to respond to the letter. According to her, their repeated requests to the Ministry of Finance have fallen in deaf ears. Meanwhile, the finance ministry said the delay was due to a change of government. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">At present, the Salt Trading Corporation has only about 300 tons of sugar in stock. The STC cannot sell more than 2 kg of sugar per person due to the fear of running out of stock as the stock is insufficient. Due to this, consumers have to buy sugar at high prices in the market. The STC said that they will not be able to give subsidized sugar to the customers for festivals like Dashain and Tihar even if they are allowed to buy sugar now. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The spokesperson of STC Kumar Raj Bhandari said that even if they are allowed to buy sugar now, it takes about 45 days to complete the tender process and about two months for the sugar to reach Nepal. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">According to stakeholders, Nepal usually consumes about 30,000 tons of sugar in a month. It is estimated that up to 70,000 tons of sugar is consumed in big festivals including Dashain, Tihar and Chhath. As per the government statistics, Nepali sugar industries produce up to 170,000 tons of sugar annually, while the rest of the insufficient sugar is imported from other countries. This year, Nepal produced only 150,000 tons of sugar. </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-24', 'modified' => '2021-08-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13607', 'image' => '20210824021607_20190103041621_aaaaaaa.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-24 14:15:16', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13860', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NOC Hikes Price of Petroleum Products ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 24: Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has increased the price of petroleum products effective from August 24.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">August 24: Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has increased the price of petroleum products effective from August 24.</span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to NOC, the prices of petrol, diesel and kerosene have been increased by Rs 2 per litre. With this, the price of petrol has reached Rs 130 per litre. Similarly, diesel and kerosene are being traded at Rs 113 per litre. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The price of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) has also gone up by Rs 25 per cylinder. With this, the price of LPG has reached Rs 1,450 per cylinder. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Aviation fuel for domestic consumption has increased by Rs 2 per litre and reached Rs 86 while aviation fuel for international flights has been fixed at US$ 770 per kilo litre with an increase of US$ 16 per kilo litre. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The NOC added that it is still bearing loss of Rs 8.42 per litre in petrol, Rs 2.64 in diesel and Rs 420.75 per cylinder of LPG even after increasing the price. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">NOC Spokesperson, Binitmani Upadhyay, said that the NOC increased the price of petroleum products after facing a loss of Rs 1.15 billion in the last 15 days as per the latest price list received from the Indian Oil Corporation. -- RSS </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-24', 'modified' => '2021-08-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13606', 'image' => '20210824101943_20210707102647_20190503125003_Petrol-Price-Increase.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-24 10:18:43', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13861', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NTA Starts Viability Study on Assembling Mobile Phones in Nepal', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 24: Nepal Telecommunication Authority (NTA) has started a feasibility study for assembling mobile phones in Nepal. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">August 24: Nepal Telecommunication Authority (NTA) has started a feasibility study for assembling mobile phones in Nepal. NTA has initiated the study to reduce the country’s trade deficit by assembling mobile phones within the country in the context of smart phones worth billions of rupees being imported every year.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Imports of mobile phones in Nepal have skyrocketed after the Covid-19 pandemic. According to the Nepal Mobile Phone Association of Nepal, in the last fiscal year 2077/78 alone, more than 4 million sets of mobile phones worth Rs 37.40 billion have been imported in the country.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">NTA has formed a seven-member committee led by NTA spokesperson Min Prasad Aryal to study the issue.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The committee has studied the prospect of assembling and refurbishing mobile phones in Nepal. Assembling means making mobiles in Nepal by bringing parts from abroad, while refurbishing means repairing damaged mobiles and making them new. The committee has suggested that mobile phones can be produced and refurbished in Nepal by providing necessary facilitation to mobile phone importers and industrialists.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">However, this is only the first draft of the study. NTA is preparing to conduct a detailed feasibility study in the coming days in coordination with concerned industrialists.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">NTA Chairman Purushottam Khanal said that a study has been started on how to facilitate taxes, how to set up industries, how many mobiles can be imported, how much manpower is needed, how many phones can be assembled and refurbished in Nepal and what are the possibilities and challenges of assembling.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">"The report has recommended for a detailed study," said Khanal. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Although the authority has started the study, businessmen seem to be against the idea. At present, 2.5 percent excise duty in addition to 13 percent VAT is levied on the import of mobile phones in Nepal and no other customs duty is charged. Businessmen argue that assembling parts here is more expensive than importing readymade sets because of the 5 percent customs duty on importing parts. For this reason, businessmen are not in favor of assembling mobile phones in Nepal.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Deepak Malhotra, president of the Nepal Mobile Phone Importers' Association, says that the mobile assembly industry is not possible in Nepal due to various reasons including the high cost of importing parts, lack of investment, manpower and market. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-24', 'modified' => '2021-08-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13605', 'image' => '20210824103826_20201019114758_1603066095.34 2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-24 10:37:43', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13859', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'OAG Report Raises Serious Question over Existence of Investment Board', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 23: The Office of the Auditor General has raised serious questions over the legitimacy of the Investment Board.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">August 23: The Office of the Auditor General has raised serious questions over the legitimacy of the Investment Board. Within three years of its establishment, the existence of the Investment Board has been questioned by the constitutional body for its poor performance although the government had set up the Board as per the Public-Private Partnership and Investment Act, 2075 for the construction of infrastructure, mobilization of domestic and foreign resources and promotion of investment.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">A recent report by the Auditor General, a constitutional body that has been auditing the country's public resources as well as government revenue and expenses, has questioned the legitimacy of the Investment Board.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">According to the report, the Investment Board has not been able to work as intended and is misusing the state treasury by receiving salary benefits only. Similarly, the expenses incurred in the administrative tasks of the board is also unreasonable so the current structure should be reviewed if the board continues to perform its duties like this. In the fiscal Year 2019/20, the government had allocated Rs 504 million for the board but it could spend only Rs 42.33 million. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The report states the board has been ineffective in evaluation, monitoring and preparation of agreement papers of 50 projects in 2019.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">According to the OAG report, the board has failed to establish Public-Private Partnership Unit. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The programs specified by the Investment Board in its annual program are not implemented but salary and other allowance has been received by the board members, the report further stated. The report says, "the Investment should operate in accordance with its objectives otherwise the current structure should be reviewed."</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Maheshwar Kafle, Deputy Auditor General, said the detailed report of the OAG has highlighted the real performance of the Investment Board so it should act in accordance with its objectives. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">“We have highlighted the real indicators that need to be corrected. The concerned ministry and department should play an important role to bring reform in the board. The Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee should also issue necessary instructions,” added Kafle.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-23', 'modified' => '2021-08-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13604', 'image' => '20210823044910_MG_3290.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-23 16:48:20', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13858', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'OAG Concerned About the Delay in Ownership Transfer of Khimti Hydropower Project ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 23: The Office of the Auditor General (OAG) has raised concern regarding the delay in the transfer of ownership of the Khimti Hydropower Project. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">August 23: The Office of the Auditor General (OAG) has raised concern regarding the delay in the transfer of ownership of the Khimti Hydropower Project. The Auditor General has raised the issue in the 58th Annual Report (2076/77). </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">As per the pre-agreement between the Government of Nepal and the promoter company Himal Power Limited, 50 percent share ownership of the 60 MW project was to be provided to Nepal Electricity Authority on July 11, 2020. However, the ownership of the project could not be transferred within the stipulated time. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The ownership of the project has not been transferred till date. Currently, the project is being operated by signing an interim agreement between Himal Power and NEA. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The project had started commercial power generation from July 2000. As per the agreement between the government and the promoter company, 50 percent share ownership of the project was to be given to NEA free of cost 20 years after the start of power generation. However, the report of the Auditor General states that the necessary process has not been completed. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In order to transfer ownership of the project, a separate company owned by both NEA and the promoter company has to be set up. However, the report states that no such company has been established. In addition, the company has to sign a new power purchase agreement with NEA. The report states that such process has not been completed due to which the transfer of ownership was delayed. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The auditor general has also raised questions about the company's share trading. According to the report, the project is expected to generate 350 million kilowatts of electricity per hour. A Norwegian company, the largest shareholder in the company, has already calculated that the profit from the transfer of 50 percent ownership of the company from July 11, 2020 will be Rs 119 million Norwegian kroner. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">A Nepali company owns 16.90 percent shares in Himal Power. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Khimti is the first hydropower project constructed with the investment of private sector. It is also the first project to be handed over to the government by the private sector. Therefore, the issue of transfer of ownership of this project is considered very important. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Himal Power Company has investments from Butwal Power Company Limited, Statcraft SF of Norway and Alstom Power S among others. </span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-23', 'modified' => '2021-08-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13603', 'image' => '20210823010727_20210119023725_1611012723.Clipboard02.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-23 13:06:41', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13856', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Fostering Resilience of Women-Led Businesses Project Kicks Off', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 23: Thulo.Com, an e-commerce market, along with Enterprise for Management, Economic Reform and Gender Equality (EMERGE) is implementing a project ‘Fostering Resilience of Women-Led Businesses and Consumers’ with support from USAID’s Tayar Nepal - Improved Disaster Risk Management Project.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Gill Sans MT","sans-serif"">August 23: Thulo.Com, an e-commerce market, along with Enterprise for Management, Economic Reform and Gender Equality (EMERGE) is implementing a project ‘Fostering Resilience of Women-Led Businesses and Consumers’ with support from USAID’s Tayar Nepal - Improved Disaster Risk Management Project - to support home-based women producers from both formal and informal sector in the wake of Covid-19 pandemic.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Gill Sans MT","sans-serif"">The project aims to provide a platform to home-based women producers and equip them with necessary skills and information to become resilient during disasters beyond COVID-19.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Gill Sans MT","sans-serif"">In this regard, Thulo.Com and EMERGE conducted a virtual inception meeting on 18th August 2021, reads a joint statement issued by the organisers. The participants of the programme included women entrepreneurs, representatives from various ministries, local government, banks, insurance, tech companies, development agencies, private sector organizations, and media.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Gill Sans MT","sans-serif"">Welcoming the participants of the programme, Dr, Mona Shrestha Adhikari, CEO of EMERGE, shed light on the objectives of the project. She mentioned that the main objectives behind this project are to impart skills on Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) for holistic business management and to enhance the economic resilience of women-led businesses. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Gill Sans MT","sans-serif"">The project’s geographical focus is on five provinces, which include 10 districts and 15 municipalities. She also shared that they are collaborating with organizations namely SAARC Business Association of Home-Based Workers (SABAH Nepal), National Indigenous Disabled Women Association Nepal (NIDWAN), Federation of Business and Professional Women Nepal (FBPWN), and Federation of Women with Disability-Nepal (FWDN) along with four municipalities: Birendranagar, Surkhet district; Godavari, Kailali district; Neelakantha, Dhading district; and Tulsipur sub-metropolitan city, Dang district - that are working areas of USAID’s Tayar Nepal.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Gill Sans MT","sans-serif"">In her opening remarks Tammie Harris of Tayar Nepal shared that this project is an extension of last year’s pilot project named “Revitalizing Women’s Businesses Amidst COVID-19 Pandemic”. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Gill Sans MT","sans-serif"">She expressed her belief that this project will equip women entrepreneurs and producers with tools to enhance their business resilience and to assist them to explore more entrepreneurship opportunities in producing the products that will contribute to enhancing the resilience of communities. She also appreciated the in-kind contribution of Thulo and the EMERGE team to this project.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Gill Sans MT","sans-serif"">Durga Prasad Bhusal, under-secretary, Ministry of Industry Commerce and Supplies (MOICS), expressed that this project is perfectly timed to grab the opportunities presented by e-commerce and mitigate the challenges brought by the disasters like COVID-19 pandemic. On behalf of MOICS, Under Secretary Bhusal expressed enthusiasm in supporting this project and beyond to enable MSMEs including women businesses to benefit from e-commerce regulations and plans of the government. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Gill Sans MT","sans-serif"">Surakchya Adhikari, COO of Thulo.Com, and the focal person of the project, shared the activities that will be covered during the project period. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Gill Sans MT","sans-serif"">She highlighted the effort of being as inclusive as possible by including project beneficiaries from formal and informal businesses, both urban and rural areas as well as from marginalized and socially excluded communities such as women with disabilities and women from ethnic groups. She highlighted that the project aims to upskill 120 women entrepreneurs and home based producers among which 40 will get access to online promotion and sales along with developing a dedicated App to disseminate information related to DRRM.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Gill Sans MT","sans-serif"">Ambica Shrestha, president, FBPWN, stressed that many women entrepreneurs are home based and in today’s time digitization of business is essential. </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-23', 'modified' => '2021-08-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13602', 'image' => '20210823123006_Inception Meeting.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-23 12:29:01', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13855', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NEA Prepares to Launch Bright and Clean City Campaign ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 23: Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) is preparing to launch the ‘Bright and Clean City Campaign’ with the objective of illuminating and beautifying the cities across the country.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">August 23: Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) is preparing to launch the ‘Bright and Clean City Campaign’ with the objective of illuminating and beautifying the cities across the country. NEA has initiated the campaign under the government’s Bright Nepal Campaign. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">As a part of the campaign, sophisticated smart lights would be installed in various places including historical and cultural heritage sites and major thoroughfares in the city areas. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif""> Newly appointed Executive Director of NEA Kulman Ghising shared that the campaign would utilize the power that goes to waste during the night time and will help further illuminate the city areas. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Ghising, who played a vital role in reducing power cuts during his previous term as NEA Executive Director, is now focusing on improving the quality of electricity and to increase electricity consumption. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Under this campaign, NEA plans to remove unnecessary and unmanaged electric poles and properly manage the power supply cables that are being laid underground. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to Ghising, the campaign would begin from Kathmandu, Bharatpur and Pokhara in the first phase and gradually expand to other cities in the country. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Earlier, Minister for Energy and Irrigation, Pampha Bhusal, had shared her plan while assuming the office to manage and strengthen the power supply system by maintaining the beauty of the cities. This campaign is being launched in line with the announcement made by the minister. </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-23', 'modified' => '2021-08-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13601', 'image' => '20210823091945_20190101025132_DSC_0021.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-23 09:18:50', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13857', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Second Batch of Vaccines arrives in Nepal from Japan', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 23: An additional 200,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines have arrived in Nepal. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">August 23: An additional 200,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines have arrived in Nepal. According to the Ministry of Health and Population, 208,700 doses out of 1.6 million doses provided by Japan under the Covax facility have arrived in the country on Saturday morning.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Earlier, 900,000 doses of vaccine had arrived in Nepal on August 6 and 7. The vaccine is administered to citizens over the age of 25 as the second dose of Covishield. As AstraZeneca and Covishield are vaccines of the same nature produced in different locations, the ministry is using Covishield as an alternative.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Indian company Serum Institute Pvt. Ltd. is producing Covishield vaccine in collaboration with Oxford University and AstraZeneca. The government of Nepal had started the vaccination campaign with 1 million doses of Covishield vaccine provided by India on January 27 last year. Later, Nepal purchased 2 million vaccines on February 21. So far, India has provided only 1 million doses of vaccines.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The ministry has decided to use AstraZeneca as an alternative to Covishield in the first week of June after it was confirmed that the vaccine would not be provided by India. Chief of the Vaccination Management Division, Jhalak Sharma Gautam said that out of the 1.6 million vaccines provided by Japan, 1.1 million vaccines have already arrived in Nepal and the remaining 500,000 vaccines will arrive in Nepal on Monday. The new vaccine will be given to the ones who received the first dose of Covishield in Provinces 1 and 2.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the ministry, a total of 8,770,664 people have been vaccinated against Covid-19, including 4,935,056 people receiving the first dose and 3,835,608 receiving the second as of Saturday (August 21).</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-23', 'modified' => '2021-08-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13600', 'image' => '20210823010019_20210523010929__117616854_hi066285277.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-23 12:59:36', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13854', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'OAG Report Points out Widespread Anomalies and Irregularities', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 22: The 58th annual report of the Office of the Auditor General (OAG) published by the Auditor General reveals a surge in financial irregularities and anomalies. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">August 22: The 58th annual report of the Office of the Auditor General (OAG) published by the Auditor General reveals a surge in financial irregularities and anomalies. The report states that the government bodies themselves have worked against the Financial Procedure Act and Fiscal Responsibility Act. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The report shows that the transactions have been carried out without fulfilling the required procedures and keeping its records. In the fiscal year 2019/20 alone, audit reports of federal, state, and local government office as well as other organizations and committees have shown arrears of Rs 439 billion. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, the foreign grant which needs to be reimbursed is Rs 9.13 billion and the loan amount is Rs 12.73 billion. The volume of loan acquired by the government along with interest during the review period amounts Rs 2.5 billion. The report shows that the total amount of loan that needs to be settled is Rs 676.41 billion an increase from last year’s amount of Rs 664.44 billion.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><em><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Rs 40 billion arrears at local level</span></span></em></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the report, the local governments alone have arrears of Rs 40 billion. Of it, Rs 5.47 billion has to be recovered, Rs 10.75 billion has been misappropriated, Rs 17.16 billion lacks the required documents and Rs 10.6 million has not been reimbursed, while Rs 7.7 billion advance needs to be returned back. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The total amount of arrears at the local level has reached Rs 103.37 billion. Arrears of the previous fiscal year is Rs 622 billion.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><em><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Haphazard expenses</span></span></em></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The report points out anomalies in the preparation and distribution of the budget. Like in the previous year, a big volume of budget was introduced and huge expenses have been made at the end of the fiscal year along with reckless transfer of money. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Although Rule 33 of the Financial Procedure Rules-2064 mentions that the accounts should be closed before the end of the fiscal year (July 9 of this fiscal year), Rs 210.19 billion has been spent in the month of July alone. Of the total budget expenditure, Rs 1.91 billion alone has been spent in the last week of Asadh (mid-July). So the Auditor General has asked the government to control the payment and expenditure in the last week of Ashadh.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><em><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Procurement of medical goods flouting the law</span></span></em></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The 58th report has pointed out that the government has procured medical items going against the law. It has claimed that it is against the law to enter into an agreement with an individual who has not been assigned responsibility for this purpose. The government had made an agreement with the Omni Group to purchase health products after the second case of COVID-19 was detected in the country. The report of the Auditor General states that a committee was formed without following the provisions specified in the Act. Also, the goods purchased by Omni Group were used without conducting any technical examination. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><em><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Vehicles purchased flouting rules</span></span></em></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the OAG report, the local governments have purchased vehicles illegally. In the Fiscal Year 2019/20, the local level spent Rs 133 billion on vehicle procurement. Although the Ministry of Finance had issued directive preventing the purchase of vehicles for regular use of the office from the budget provided by the government, the local government purchased vehicles flouting the issued directive. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><em><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">MCC and Fast Track irregularities</span></span></em></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The report has revealed the Millennium Challenge Account Nepal under the US-funded Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) grant has misappropriated funds of Rs 200 million on the pretext of consulting services. "By appointing a consultant as a financial agent and agreeing to pay $ 5.05 million to each consultant, so far Rs 20.83 million has been spent," the report states. MCA Nepal has spent the money by appointing a consultant as a financial agent to keep track of the initial phase of financial transactions and recommend payments and financial transactions.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The report shows that after spending a large amount of money, the Nepalese Army canceled 14 contracts related to the Kathmandu-Terai Fast Track terming it to be unnecessary and inappropriate. Cancelling the process and contract after making payment of Rs 3.74 billion is itself an act of financial irregularity, states the report. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><em><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Income Tax not paid</span></span></em></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">It has been found that the banks and financial institutions have not even paid the income tax. According to the report, 24 commercial banks and 13 insurance companies have earned Rs 11.63 billion through FPOs and share auctions. Thirty percent tax applied to these transactions amount to Rs 3.48 billion. However, it seems that the revenue has been waived off. The report states that the tax should be assessed and collected after required investigation.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The report also speaks of the malpractice in the transfer of right shares. In the case of payment made by one person transferring property to another person, the amount equal to the market value of the property has to be verified but the tax has been assessed without verifying the capital gains. The OAG report states tax worth Rs 106.86 million to be received under the Income Tax Act, 2058 should be assessed and collected.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, as per the agreement reached between the banks and financial institutions for merger, the report has decided to assess and collect the tax and interest of Rs 4.47 billion as per the Income Tax Act.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><em><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Big companies evading tax</span></span></em></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The OAG report has found multinational and other large companies to be evading tax. Gorkha Brewery has evaded tax of around Rs 1 billion, Bottlers Nepal which has been producing soft drinks including Coca-Cola, Sprite and Fanta in the country has evaded capital gains tax applicable in transfer of ownership. Similarly, the report shows that Coca-Cola has to pay more than Rs 250 billion tax. Seven airline companies have evaded tax worth Rs 51.98 million applicable in airline tickets.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">On the other hand, OAG report has suggested bringing social apps and sites operating without being registered under the tax net. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><br /> <br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-22', 'modified' => '2021-08-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13599', 'image' => '20210822043921_new-logo1_20210821142644.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-22 16:38:38', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13852', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal Imports Routers Worth Rs 2.16 Billion in Last Fiscal Year', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 22: The data published by the Department of Customs shows that Nepal imported routers worth Rs 2.16 billion in the last fiscal year. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">August 22: The data published by the Department of Customs shows that Nepal imported routers worth Rs 2.16 billion in the last fiscal year. With the increase in the use of internet, the demand for routers has also increased in recent years in Nepal. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">China accounts for about 97 percent of the routers imported to Nepal, while routers are also imported to Nepal from other 20 countries including Taiwan, Latvia, Mexico and Thailand.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Along with the import of routers, the customs revenue has also increased significantly. In the last Fiscal Year 2077/78, the government collected revenue of Rs 400 million from import of routers. With internet service becoming more accessible in Nepal, the demand for routers is likely to increase in the future.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-22', 'modified' => '2021-08-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13598', 'image' => '20210822040147_Linksys-Max-Stream-Mesh-WiFi-5-Router-MR6350.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-22 16:00:51', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = falseinclude - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 60 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
Warning (2): simplexml_load_file() [<a href='http://php.net/function.simplexml-load-file'>function.simplexml-load-file</a>]: I/O warning : failed to load external entity "" [APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 60]file not found!Code Context// $file = 'http://aabhiyan:QUVLg8Wzs2F7G9N7@nepalstock.com.np/api/indexdata.xml';if(!$xml = simplexml_load_file($file)){$viewFile = '/var/www/html/newbusinessage.com/app/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'articles' => array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ) ), 'current_user' => null, 'logged_in' => false ) $articles = array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13867', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal Imports Laptops worth Rs 8 Billion in a Year', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 25: In the last fiscal year laptops worth Rs 7.72 billion have been imported in Nepal.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">August 25: In the last fiscal year laptops worth Rs 7.72 billion have been imported in Nepal. Consumption of laptops has increased in Nepal due to the new environment created by the lockdown.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The increasing trend of online classrooms and zoom conferences, remittance inflow, access to electricity in rural areas, increasing use of laptops in teaching methods, increasing practice of online version in government services and information technology friendly society have led to increase in imports of laptops in Nepal.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">About 93 percent of Nepal's laptops are imported from China, while other major countries are Malaysia, Singapore, the United States, Indonesia and Japan.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In the Fiscal Year 2077/78, the government collected revenue of Rs. 992.67 million from laptops import.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> Import Data of Laptop in Fiscal Year 2077/78:</span></span></span></span></p> <table cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse:collapse"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:1px solid black; height:68px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Countries</span></span></strong></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:1px solid black; height:68px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Quantity in Numbers</span></span></strong></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:1px solid black; height:68px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Imported Amount in Thousand</span></span></strong></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:1px solid black; height:68px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Revenue amount in Thousand</span></span></strong></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:1px solid black; height:68px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Import Percentage</span></span></strong></span></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">China</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">130,965</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">4,241,644</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">927,725</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">93.17</span></span></span></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Malaysia</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">4,244</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">249,647</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">32,434</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">3.21</span></span></span></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Singapore</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">1,058</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">69,403</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">8,723</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">0.89</span></span></span></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">USA</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">520</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">43,528</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">4,596</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">0.56</span></span></span></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Indonesia</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">143</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">14,024</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">1,823</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">0.18</span></span></span></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Japan</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">254</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">13,732</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">1,786</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">0.18</span></span></span></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">India</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">136</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">9,654</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">1,265</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">0.12</span></span></span></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Vietnam</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">182</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">8,505</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">1,106</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">0.11</span></span></span></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Thailand</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">134</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">7,711</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">1,026</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">0.10</span></span></span></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Taiwan; China</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">108</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">6,751</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">878</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">0.09</span></span></span></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">South Korea</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">229</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">19,117</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">762</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">0.25</span></span></span></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">UAE</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">113</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">4,883</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">675</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">0.06</span></span></span></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:50px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Hongkong; China</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:50px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">117</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:50px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">4,697</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:50px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">611</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:50px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">0.06</span></span></span></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">UK</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">43</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">3,975</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">328</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">0.05</span></span></span></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Philippines</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">65</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">2,494</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">324</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">0.03</span></span></span></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Australia</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">54</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">2,219</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">297</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">0.03</span></span></span></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Egypt</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">38</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">1,547</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">201</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">0.02</span></span></span></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Germany</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">25</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">1,405</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">136</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">0.02</span></span></span></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Poland</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">54</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">5,357</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">44</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">0.07</span></span></span></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Switzerland</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">7</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">1,274</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">10</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">0.02</span></span></span></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Others</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">958</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">60,790</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">7,921</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">0.78</span></span></span></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Total</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">139,447</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">7,772,358</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">992,670</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">100.00</span></span></span></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="5" style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><em><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Source: Customs Department</span></span></em></span></span></p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-25', 'modified' => '2021-08-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13612', 'image' => '20210825011803_mi_gaming_laptop_2019_image_1565003115644.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-25 13:17:08', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13866', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'OAG Report Paints Bleak Picture of Country's Fiscal Governance ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 25: If there is something often repeated in political speeches and government documents in Nepal, it is 'good governance'. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">August 25: If there is something often repeated in political speeches and government documents in Nepal, it is 'good governance'. But, the media reports coming daily and even the periodic reports by the government bodies have shown the opposite - bad governance has afflicted the system. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Last Friday, the Office of the Auditor General (OAG) unveiled its report of the fiscal year 2019/20, showing huge arrears totaling Rs 418.85 billion to be recovered by the government. It was a hefty spending but not recognized by law. Several purchases lacked proofs. There was no billing. It is sheer financial irregularity. As per the report, in the given fiscal year, the arrears grew by Rs 530 million. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The faulty spending behaviour has plagued our political sphere and bureaucracy and it's difficult to wipe out their nexus to ward off such financial anomalies. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">For any spending by the public offices including the ministries, departments, corporations, adherence to certain laws and rules is mandatory. But the report clearly indicates how the laws were disobeyed, creating anarchy in financial administration. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Who has major role behind such non-implementation of laws and rules? It is obvious that those in power/government along with bureaucracy, the permanent government, are responsible for it. The report shows how the ministries went extravagant to enfeeble the state treasury. Misuse of state coffers mounted. Undoubtedly, it will discourage the tax payers. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The OAG prepared separate auditing reports of the activities carried by the local level, provincial governments and federal government. It is one of the most comprehensive reports that brings financial facts and also recommends measures to various sectors of government. It has made aware the stakeholders that involve in public spending of the values of transparency and public accountability. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">This time, OAG has come up with new report- separate report on COVID-19 financial management. It is another interesting area of auditing as the management of COVID-19 had drawn huge criticism in view of financial irregularities. Then, the media were rife with the news about mishandling of COVID-19 in medical purchases. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">In the wake of gradual implementation of federalism in place with the three-tier of elections and three-tier of governments, people piled hope on the system- from smooth and prompt service delivery to initiation and acceleration of development activities. The local governments were hailed and hoped of delivering public service at people's doorstep. It was expected to free the people from sufferings of unitary system where even the financial authority and development works were guided by the centre. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">To everyone's dismay, the financial conduct of local levels, where it has been devolved financial, legal and administrative rights with new form of governance, has been exposed with biting reality- double the arrears of provincial and federal government as compared to the total spending. The OAG's 58th report mentioned that among the total financial transactions, the arrears in federal government stood at Rs 2.86 per cent (Rs 44 billion) while it was 2.74 per cent (Rs 6 billion) in province government and 5 per cent in the local government (Rs 40 billion). </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The leadership now must be aware how the truth exposed by the report has dashed the public hope and eroded public trust on political parties and bureaucracy. Both the political and bureaucratic leaderships are in urgent need to revive effective and smooth public financial management and fiscal federalism from the shambles. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Reading the OAG report fully, it is fair to say that good governance is not mere a jargon for political speech to provoke public and for official documents to lure readers, but is a common commitment and translation into action, especially the political parties and bureaucracy. Isn't the OAG report a wakeup call for us? </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Interestingly, as the OAG report covers the time led by the previous government, it is yet to see how the present government evaluates the report and makes its position. No political leaders who were in the previous government have spoken anything on such egregious financial aberration. Now, is the present government able to recover the arrears and committed not to repeating such recklessness and indiscipline that dented much the public financial management? </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Nepali Congress, Sekhar Koirala tweeted, "The OAG has made public its report. The amount of arrears and irregularities is increasing. The current government should take initiative on disposal of arrears and take action accordingly. If the government has will power, it can do both of these tasks." -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-25', 'modified' => '2021-08-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13611', 'image' => '20210825092703_OAG1629582841.4.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-25 09:26:11', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13865', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NEPSE CEO Saud Resigns ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 25: Chief Executive Officer of Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) Chandra Singh Saud has resigned from his post following accusation of buying shares of a company illegally. ', 'content' => '<p><img alt="" src="/app/webroot/userfiles/images/saud.jpg" style="height:364px; width:369px" /></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">August 25: Chief Executive Officer of Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) Chandra Singh Saud has resigned from his post following accusation of buying shares of a company illegally. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Saud has been accused of purchasing 10,000 units of shares of the Sarbottam Cement in the name of his wife, as the company was preparing to introduce general shares for listing. As an office bearer of NEPSE, Saud is reportedly not allowed to buy shares in the name of his family members. The matter is currently under investigation by officials of the Ministry of Finance. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Saud tendered his resignation to the chief of the Financial Sector Management and Institution Coordination Division of the ministry, Dirgha Raj Mainali on Tuesday, August 24.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Speaking at a news conference after tendering his resignation letter, Saud said he resigned from his post to cooperate with the investigation process. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">He also claimed that he has not done anything against the norms of CEO of NEPSE.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Ministry of Finance is also investigating irregularities against Bhishma Raj Dhungana, chairperson of the Securities Board of Nepal (SEBON). Dhungana is also accused of buying the shares of Sarbottam Cement in the name of his daughter. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Finance Committee of Parliament had directed the authorities concerned last Friday to take action against SEBON Chairperson Dhungana and CEO of NEPSE Saud after their involvement in illegal share trading was covered by various media. </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-25', 'modified' => '2021-08-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13610', 'image' => '20210825091640_nepse-live-shareprice.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-25 09:15:09', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13864', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Restriction on Movement of Vehicles after 8 pm Lifted in Kathmandu Valley ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 25: Local authorities of Kathmandu Valley have lifted the restriction imposed on movement of private and public vehicles after 8:00 pm in the Valley. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">August 25: Local authorities of Kathmandu Valley have lifted the restriction imposed on movement of private and public vehicles after 8:00 pm in the Valley. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A meeting of the chief district officers of the three districts in the valley – Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur – on Tuesday (August 24) decided to lift the restriction. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Chief District Officer of Kathmandu, Kali Prasad Parajuli, informed that the restriction on movement of private and public vehicles has been lifted from immediate effect. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Meanwhile, the prohibitory order has been extended till September 1 to prevent and control COVID-19 pandemic from spreading. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The district administration offices of Kathmandu valley had imposed the prohibitory order on April 29 to curb the second wave of coronavirus. The authorities have extended the order time and again but have relaxed the rules in recent weeks. </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-25', 'modified' => '2021-08-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13609', 'image' => '20210825090032_20200903113103_1599056781.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-25 08:59:13', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13863', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NEA to Stop Power Cuts without Prior Notice', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 24: Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has started taking action against unannounced power cuts. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">August 24: Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has started taking action against unannounced power cuts. After being re-appointed as the executive director of NEA, Kulman Ghising has taken initiative to resolve the problem of power cuts without any prior notice for the welfare of the consumers.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">NEA has taken initiatives to make the power supply regular and reliable, prevent leakage, maintain financial discipline and make its service effective. In the last one year, NEA has been cutting power supply without providing prior information. When consumers make calls to the 'no light' department, officials would respond rudely. Most of the time phone calls used to go unanswered, and if the call is answered, consumers wouldn't get reliable information. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The NEA management has made necessary efforts to improve service delivery by resolving such problems after receiving complaints from customers. NEA has given top priority to improve power supply and make service delivery quick and easy.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Ghising held a virtual meeting on Monday, August 24, with the Deputy Executive Director of the Directorate of Distribution and Customer Service, all seven provincial offices, provincial division offices and branch heads to discuss the problems faced by the consumers. He directed them to take strict measures in maintaining quality power supply, improve service and maintain good discipline.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">"In order to improve the service delivery and maintain good governance within the organization, change is needed in every individual's ethical conduct," he said. He urged the officials to undertake their work by displaying a high level of ethical behaviour and without coming under pressure from anyone. He also said customers should be provided with three-phase meters as soon as they demand it, and work should be started immediately to strengthen and upgrade transmission and distribution structures and scrap the agreement with inefficient contractors.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">"In order to control the expenses, the stock of goods should be reduced by making maximum use of the old goods in the store, control over the purchase of new goods, auction of useless goods and timely maintenance of transformers," said Ghising. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">NEA has also introduced new provisions to improve the conduct of its employees which would add additional financial burden to the organization.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-24', 'modified' => '2021-08-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13608', 'image' => '20210824023821_20210514031053_NEA.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-24 14:37:30', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13862', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Delays Procurement of Subsidized Sugar ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 24: The government’s negligence has caused delay in purchase of subsidized sugar. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">August 24: The government’s negligence has caused delay in purchase of subsidized sugar. Lack of coordination between the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, which is responsible for giving permission to procure sugar at subsidized rate, and the Ministry of Finance, which releases budget, is the main reason behind the delay in procurement.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">According to the Salt Trading Corporation, which has been given the responsibility of buying subsidized sugar, they had sent a letter to the MoICS about a year ago seeking permission to buy sugar. At that time, due to the negligence of the Ministry of Commerce, the STC could not get permission to buy sugar. After a delay of about eight months, the Ministry of Commerce had sent a letter to the Ministry of Finance last April to allow the STC to buy 30,000 tons of sugar. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Urmila KC, under secretary at the MoICS, said that the Ministry of Finance is yet to respond to the letter. According to her, their repeated requests to the Ministry of Finance have fallen in deaf ears. Meanwhile, the finance ministry said the delay was due to a change of government. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">At present, the Salt Trading Corporation has only about 300 tons of sugar in stock. The STC cannot sell more than 2 kg of sugar per person due to the fear of running out of stock as the stock is insufficient. Due to this, consumers have to buy sugar at high prices in the market. The STC said that they will not be able to give subsidized sugar to the customers for festivals like Dashain and Tihar even if they are allowed to buy sugar now. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The spokesperson of STC Kumar Raj Bhandari said that even if they are allowed to buy sugar now, it takes about 45 days to complete the tender process and about two months for the sugar to reach Nepal. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">According to stakeholders, Nepal usually consumes about 30,000 tons of sugar in a month. It is estimated that up to 70,000 tons of sugar is consumed in big festivals including Dashain, Tihar and Chhath. As per the government statistics, Nepali sugar industries produce up to 170,000 tons of sugar annually, while the rest of the insufficient sugar is imported from other countries. This year, Nepal produced only 150,000 tons of sugar. </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-24', 'modified' => '2021-08-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13607', 'image' => '20210824021607_20190103041621_aaaaaaa.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-24 14:15:16', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13860', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NOC Hikes Price of Petroleum Products ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 24: Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has increased the price of petroleum products effective from August 24.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">August 24: Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has increased the price of petroleum products effective from August 24.</span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to NOC, the prices of petrol, diesel and kerosene have been increased by Rs 2 per litre. With this, the price of petrol has reached Rs 130 per litre. Similarly, diesel and kerosene are being traded at Rs 113 per litre. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The price of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) has also gone up by Rs 25 per cylinder. With this, the price of LPG has reached Rs 1,450 per cylinder. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Aviation fuel for domestic consumption has increased by Rs 2 per litre and reached Rs 86 while aviation fuel for international flights has been fixed at US$ 770 per kilo litre with an increase of US$ 16 per kilo litre. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The NOC added that it is still bearing loss of Rs 8.42 per litre in petrol, Rs 2.64 in diesel and Rs 420.75 per cylinder of LPG even after increasing the price. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">NOC Spokesperson, Binitmani Upadhyay, said that the NOC increased the price of petroleum products after facing a loss of Rs 1.15 billion in the last 15 days as per the latest price list received from the Indian Oil Corporation. -- RSS </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-24', 'modified' => '2021-08-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13606', 'image' => '20210824101943_20210707102647_20190503125003_Petrol-Price-Increase.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-24 10:18:43', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13861', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NTA Starts Viability Study on Assembling Mobile Phones in Nepal', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 24: Nepal Telecommunication Authority (NTA) has started a feasibility study for assembling mobile phones in Nepal. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">August 24: Nepal Telecommunication Authority (NTA) has started a feasibility study for assembling mobile phones in Nepal. NTA has initiated the study to reduce the country’s trade deficit by assembling mobile phones within the country in the context of smart phones worth billions of rupees being imported every year.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Imports of mobile phones in Nepal have skyrocketed after the Covid-19 pandemic. According to the Nepal Mobile Phone Association of Nepal, in the last fiscal year 2077/78 alone, more than 4 million sets of mobile phones worth Rs 37.40 billion have been imported in the country.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">NTA has formed a seven-member committee led by NTA spokesperson Min Prasad Aryal to study the issue.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The committee has studied the prospect of assembling and refurbishing mobile phones in Nepal. Assembling means making mobiles in Nepal by bringing parts from abroad, while refurbishing means repairing damaged mobiles and making them new. The committee has suggested that mobile phones can be produced and refurbished in Nepal by providing necessary facilitation to mobile phone importers and industrialists.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">However, this is only the first draft of the study. NTA is preparing to conduct a detailed feasibility study in the coming days in coordination with concerned industrialists.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">NTA Chairman Purushottam Khanal said that a study has been started on how to facilitate taxes, how to set up industries, how many mobiles can be imported, how much manpower is needed, how many phones can be assembled and refurbished in Nepal and what are the possibilities and challenges of assembling.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">"The report has recommended for a detailed study," said Khanal. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Although the authority has started the study, businessmen seem to be against the idea. At present, 2.5 percent excise duty in addition to 13 percent VAT is levied on the import of mobile phones in Nepal and no other customs duty is charged. Businessmen argue that assembling parts here is more expensive than importing readymade sets because of the 5 percent customs duty on importing parts. For this reason, businessmen are not in favor of assembling mobile phones in Nepal.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Deepak Malhotra, president of the Nepal Mobile Phone Importers' Association, says that the mobile assembly industry is not possible in Nepal due to various reasons including the high cost of importing parts, lack of investment, manpower and market. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-24', 'modified' => '2021-08-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13605', 'image' => '20210824103826_20201019114758_1603066095.34 2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-24 10:37:43', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13859', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'OAG Report Raises Serious Question over Existence of Investment Board', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 23: The Office of the Auditor General has raised serious questions over the legitimacy of the Investment Board.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">August 23: The Office of the Auditor General has raised serious questions over the legitimacy of the Investment Board. Within three years of its establishment, the existence of the Investment Board has been questioned by the constitutional body for its poor performance although the government had set up the Board as per the Public-Private Partnership and Investment Act, 2075 for the construction of infrastructure, mobilization of domestic and foreign resources and promotion of investment.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">A recent report by the Auditor General, a constitutional body that has been auditing the country's public resources as well as government revenue and expenses, has questioned the legitimacy of the Investment Board.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">According to the report, the Investment Board has not been able to work as intended and is misusing the state treasury by receiving salary benefits only. Similarly, the expenses incurred in the administrative tasks of the board is also unreasonable so the current structure should be reviewed if the board continues to perform its duties like this. In the fiscal Year 2019/20, the government had allocated Rs 504 million for the board but it could spend only Rs 42.33 million. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The report states the board has been ineffective in evaluation, monitoring and preparation of agreement papers of 50 projects in 2019.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">According to the OAG report, the board has failed to establish Public-Private Partnership Unit. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The programs specified by the Investment Board in its annual program are not implemented but salary and other allowance has been received by the board members, the report further stated. The report says, "the Investment should operate in accordance with its objectives otherwise the current structure should be reviewed."</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Maheshwar Kafle, Deputy Auditor General, said the detailed report of the OAG has highlighted the real performance of the Investment Board so it should act in accordance with its objectives. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">“We have highlighted the real indicators that need to be corrected. The concerned ministry and department should play an important role to bring reform in the board. The Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee should also issue necessary instructions,” added Kafle.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-23', 'modified' => '2021-08-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13604', 'image' => '20210823044910_MG_3290.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-23 16:48:20', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13858', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'OAG Concerned About the Delay in Ownership Transfer of Khimti Hydropower Project ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 23: The Office of the Auditor General (OAG) has raised concern regarding the delay in the transfer of ownership of the Khimti Hydropower Project. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">August 23: The Office of the Auditor General (OAG) has raised concern regarding the delay in the transfer of ownership of the Khimti Hydropower Project. The Auditor General has raised the issue in the 58th Annual Report (2076/77). </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">As per the pre-agreement between the Government of Nepal and the promoter company Himal Power Limited, 50 percent share ownership of the 60 MW project was to be provided to Nepal Electricity Authority on July 11, 2020. However, the ownership of the project could not be transferred within the stipulated time. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The ownership of the project has not been transferred till date. Currently, the project is being operated by signing an interim agreement between Himal Power and NEA. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The project had started commercial power generation from July 2000. As per the agreement between the government and the promoter company, 50 percent share ownership of the project was to be given to NEA free of cost 20 years after the start of power generation. However, the report of the Auditor General states that the necessary process has not been completed. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In order to transfer ownership of the project, a separate company owned by both NEA and the promoter company has to be set up. However, the report states that no such company has been established. In addition, the company has to sign a new power purchase agreement with NEA. The report states that such process has not been completed due to which the transfer of ownership was delayed. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The auditor general has also raised questions about the company's share trading. According to the report, the project is expected to generate 350 million kilowatts of electricity per hour. A Norwegian company, the largest shareholder in the company, has already calculated that the profit from the transfer of 50 percent ownership of the company from July 11, 2020 will be Rs 119 million Norwegian kroner. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">A Nepali company owns 16.90 percent shares in Himal Power. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Khimti is the first hydropower project constructed with the investment of private sector. It is also the first project to be handed over to the government by the private sector. Therefore, the issue of transfer of ownership of this project is considered very important. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Himal Power Company has investments from Butwal Power Company Limited, Statcraft SF of Norway and Alstom Power S among others. </span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-23', 'modified' => '2021-08-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13603', 'image' => '20210823010727_20210119023725_1611012723.Clipboard02.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-23 13:06:41', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13856', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Fostering Resilience of Women-Led Businesses Project Kicks Off', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 23: Thulo.Com, an e-commerce market, along with Enterprise for Management, Economic Reform and Gender Equality (EMERGE) is implementing a project ‘Fostering Resilience of Women-Led Businesses and Consumers’ with support from USAID’s Tayar Nepal - Improved Disaster Risk Management Project.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Gill Sans MT","sans-serif"">August 23: Thulo.Com, an e-commerce market, along with Enterprise for Management, Economic Reform and Gender Equality (EMERGE) is implementing a project ‘Fostering Resilience of Women-Led Businesses and Consumers’ with support from USAID’s Tayar Nepal - Improved Disaster Risk Management Project - to support home-based women producers from both formal and informal sector in the wake of Covid-19 pandemic.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Gill Sans MT","sans-serif"">The project aims to provide a platform to home-based women producers and equip them with necessary skills and information to become resilient during disasters beyond COVID-19.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Gill Sans MT","sans-serif"">In this regard, Thulo.Com and EMERGE conducted a virtual inception meeting on 18th August 2021, reads a joint statement issued by the organisers. The participants of the programme included women entrepreneurs, representatives from various ministries, local government, banks, insurance, tech companies, development agencies, private sector organizations, and media.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Gill Sans MT","sans-serif"">Welcoming the participants of the programme, Dr, Mona Shrestha Adhikari, CEO of EMERGE, shed light on the objectives of the project. She mentioned that the main objectives behind this project are to impart skills on Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) for holistic business management and to enhance the economic resilience of women-led businesses. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Gill Sans MT","sans-serif"">The project’s geographical focus is on five provinces, which include 10 districts and 15 municipalities. She also shared that they are collaborating with organizations namely SAARC Business Association of Home-Based Workers (SABAH Nepal), National Indigenous Disabled Women Association Nepal (NIDWAN), Federation of Business and Professional Women Nepal (FBPWN), and Federation of Women with Disability-Nepal (FWDN) along with four municipalities: Birendranagar, Surkhet district; Godavari, Kailali district; Neelakantha, Dhading district; and Tulsipur sub-metropolitan city, Dang district - that are working areas of USAID’s Tayar Nepal.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Gill Sans MT","sans-serif"">In her opening remarks Tammie Harris of Tayar Nepal shared that this project is an extension of last year’s pilot project named “Revitalizing Women’s Businesses Amidst COVID-19 Pandemic”. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Gill Sans MT","sans-serif"">She expressed her belief that this project will equip women entrepreneurs and producers with tools to enhance their business resilience and to assist them to explore more entrepreneurship opportunities in producing the products that will contribute to enhancing the resilience of communities. She also appreciated the in-kind contribution of Thulo and the EMERGE team to this project.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Gill Sans MT","sans-serif"">Durga Prasad Bhusal, under-secretary, Ministry of Industry Commerce and Supplies (MOICS), expressed that this project is perfectly timed to grab the opportunities presented by e-commerce and mitigate the challenges brought by the disasters like COVID-19 pandemic. On behalf of MOICS, Under Secretary Bhusal expressed enthusiasm in supporting this project and beyond to enable MSMEs including women businesses to benefit from e-commerce regulations and plans of the government. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Gill Sans MT","sans-serif"">Surakchya Adhikari, COO of Thulo.Com, and the focal person of the project, shared the activities that will be covered during the project period. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Gill Sans MT","sans-serif"">She highlighted the effort of being as inclusive as possible by including project beneficiaries from formal and informal businesses, both urban and rural areas as well as from marginalized and socially excluded communities such as women with disabilities and women from ethnic groups. She highlighted that the project aims to upskill 120 women entrepreneurs and home based producers among which 40 will get access to online promotion and sales along with developing a dedicated App to disseminate information related to DRRM.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Gill Sans MT","sans-serif"">Ambica Shrestha, president, FBPWN, stressed that many women entrepreneurs are home based and in today’s time digitization of business is essential. </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-23', 'modified' => '2021-08-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13602', 'image' => '20210823123006_Inception Meeting.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-23 12:29:01', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13855', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NEA Prepares to Launch Bright and Clean City Campaign ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 23: Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) is preparing to launch the ‘Bright and Clean City Campaign’ with the objective of illuminating and beautifying the cities across the country.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">August 23: Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) is preparing to launch the ‘Bright and Clean City Campaign’ with the objective of illuminating and beautifying the cities across the country. NEA has initiated the campaign under the government’s Bright Nepal Campaign. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">As a part of the campaign, sophisticated smart lights would be installed in various places including historical and cultural heritage sites and major thoroughfares in the city areas. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif""> Newly appointed Executive Director of NEA Kulman Ghising shared that the campaign would utilize the power that goes to waste during the night time and will help further illuminate the city areas. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Ghising, who played a vital role in reducing power cuts during his previous term as NEA Executive Director, is now focusing on improving the quality of electricity and to increase electricity consumption. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Under this campaign, NEA plans to remove unnecessary and unmanaged electric poles and properly manage the power supply cables that are being laid underground. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to Ghising, the campaign would begin from Kathmandu, Bharatpur and Pokhara in the first phase and gradually expand to other cities in the country. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Earlier, Minister for Energy and Irrigation, Pampha Bhusal, had shared her plan while assuming the office to manage and strengthen the power supply system by maintaining the beauty of the cities. This campaign is being launched in line with the announcement made by the minister. </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-23', 'modified' => '2021-08-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13601', 'image' => '20210823091945_20190101025132_DSC_0021.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-23 09:18:50', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13857', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Second Batch of Vaccines arrives in Nepal from Japan', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 23: An additional 200,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines have arrived in Nepal. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">August 23: An additional 200,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines have arrived in Nepal. According to the Ministry of Health and Population, 208,700 doses out of 1.6 million doses provided by Japan under the Covax facility have arrived in the country on Saturday morning.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Earlier, 900,000 doses of vaccine had arrived in Nepal on August 6 and 7. The vaccine is administered to citizens over the age of 25 as the second dose of Covishield. As AstraZeneca and Covishield are vaccines of the same nature produced in different locations, the ministry is using Covishield as an alternative.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Indian company Serum Institute Pvt. Ltd. is producing Covishield vaccine in collaboration with Oxford University and AstraZeneca. The government of Nepal had started the vaccination campaign with 1 million doses of Covishield vaccine provided by India on January 27 last year. Later, Nepal purchased 2 million vaccines on February 21. So far, India has provided only 1 million doses of vaccines.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The ministry has decided to use AstraZeneca as an alternative to Covishield in the first week of June after it was confirmed that the vaccine would not be provided by India. Chief of the Vaccination Management Division, Jhalak Sharma Gautam said that out of the 1.6 million vaccines provided by Japan, 1.1 million vaccines have already arrived in Nepal and the remaining 500,000 vaccines will arrive in Nepal on Monday. The new vaccine will be given to the ones who received the first dose of Covishield in Provinces 1 and 2.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the ministry, a total of 8,770,664 people have been vaccinated against Covid-19, including 4,935,056 people receiving the first dose and 3,835,608 receiving the second as of Saturday (August 21).</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-23', 'modified' => '2021-08-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13600', 'image' => '20210823010019_20210523010929__117616854_hi066285277.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-23 12:59:36', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13854', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'OAG Report Points out Widespread Anomalies and Irregularities', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 22: The 58th annual report of the Office of the Auditor General (OAG) published by the Auditor General reveals a surge in financial irregularities and anomalies. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">August 22: The 58th annual report of the Office of the Auditor General (OAG) published by the Auditor General reveals a surge in financial irregularities and anomalies. The report states that the government bodies themselves have worked against the Financial Procedure Act and Fiscal Responsibility Act. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The report shows that the transactions have been carried out without fulfilling the required procedures and keeping its records. In the fiscal year 2019/20 alone, audit reports of federal, state, and local government office as well as other organizations and committees have shown arrears of Rs 439 billion. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, the foreign grant which needs to be reimbursed is Rs 9.13 billion and the loan amount is Rs 12.73 billion. The volume of loan acquired by the government along with interest during the review period amounts Rs 2.5 billion. The report shows that the total amount of loan that needs to be settled is Rs 676.41 billion an increase from last year’s amount of Rs 664.44 billion.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><em><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Rs 40 billion arrears at local level</span></span></em></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the report, the local governments alone have arrears of Rs 40 billion. Of it, Rs 5.47 billion has to be recovered, Rs 10.75 billion has been misappropriated, Rs 17.16 billion lacks the required documents and Rs 10.6 million has not been reimbursed, while Rs 7.7 billion advance needs to be returned back. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The total amount of arrears at the local level has reached Rs 103.37 billion. Arrears of the previous fiscal year is Rs 622 billion.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><em><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Haphazard expenses</span></span></em></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The report points out anomalies in the preparation and distribution of the budget. Like in the previous year, a big volume of budget was introduced and huge expenses have been made at the end of the fiscal year along with reckless transfer of money. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Although Rule 33 of the Financial Procedure Rules-2064 mentions that the accounts should be closed before the end of the fiscal year (July 9 of this fiscal year), Rs 210.19 billion has been spent in the month of July alone. Of the total budget expenditure, Rs 1.91 billion alone has been spent in the last week of Asadh (mid-July). So the Auditor General has asked the government to control the payment and expenditure in the last week of Ashadh.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><em><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Procurement of medical goods flouting the law</span></span></em></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The 58th report has pointed out that the government has procured medical items going against the law. It has claimed that it is against the law to enter into an agreement with an individual who has not been assigned responsibility for this purpose. The government had made an agreement with the Omni Group to purchase health products after the second case of COVID-19 was detected in the country. The report of the Auditor General states that a committee was formed without following the provisions specified in the Act. Also, the goods purchased by Omni Group were used without conducting any technical examination. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><em><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Vehicles purchased flouting rules</span></span></em></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the OAG report, the local governments have purchased vehicles illegally. In the Fiscal Year 2019/20, the local level spent Rs 133 billion on vehicle procurement. Although the Ministry of Finance had issued directive preventing the purchase of vehicles for regular use of the office from the budget provided by the government, the local government purchased vehicles flouting the issued directive. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><em><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">MCC and Fast Track irregularities</span></span></em></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The report has revealed the Millennium Challenge Account Nepal under the US-funded Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) grant has misappropriated funds of Rs 200 million on the pretext of consulting services. "By appointing a consultant as a financial agent and agreeing to pay $ 5.05 million to each consultant, so far Rs 20.83 million has been spent," the report states. MCA Nepal has spent the money by appointing a consultant as a financial agent to keep track of the initial phase of financial transactions and recommend payments and financial transactions.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The report shows that after spending a large amount of money, the Nepalese Army canceled 14 contracts related to the Kathmandu-Terai Fast Track terming it to be unnecessary and inappropriate. Cancelling the process and contract after making payment of Rs 3.74 billion is itself an act of financial irregularity, states the report. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><em><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Income Tax not paid</span></span></em></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">It has been found that the banks and financial institutions have not even paid the income tax. According to the report, 24 commercial banks and 13 insurance companies have earned Rs 11.63 billion through FPOs and share auctions. Thirty percent tax applied to these transactions amount to Rs 3.48 billion. However, it seems that the revenue has been waived off. The report states that the tax should be assessed and collected after required investigation.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The report also speaks of the malpractice in the transfer of right shares. In the case of payment made by one person transferring property to another person, the amount equal to the market value of the property has to be verified but the tax has been assessed without verifying the capital gains. The OAG report states tax worth Rs 106.86 million to be received under the Income Tax Act, 2058 should be assessed and collected.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, as per the agreement reached between the banks and financial institutions for merger, the report has decided to assess and collect the tax and interest of Rs 4.47 billion as per the Income Tax Act.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><em><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Big companies evading tax</span></span></em></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The OAG report has found multinational and other large companies to be evading tax. Gorkha Brewery has evaded tax of around Rs 1 billion, Bottlers Nepal which has been producing soft drinks including Coca-Cola, Sprite and Fanta in the country has evaded capital gains tax applicable in transfer of ownership. Similarly, the report shows that Coca-Cola has to pay more than Rs 250 billion tax. Seven airline companies have evaded tax worth Rs 51.98 million applicable in airline tickets.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">On the other hand, OAG report has suggested bringing social apps and sites operating without being registered under the tax net. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><br /> <br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-22', 'modified' => '2021-08-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13599', 'image' => '20210822043921_new-logo1_20210821142644.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-22 16:38:38', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13852', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal Imports Routers Worth Rs 2.16 Billion in Last Fiscal Year', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 22: The data published by the Department of Customs shows that Nepal imported routers worth Rs 2.16 billion in the last fiscal year. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">August 22: The data published by the Department of Customs shows that Nepal imported routers worth Rs 2.16 billion in the last fiscal year. With the increase in the use of internet, the demand for routers has also increased in recent years in Nepal. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">China accounts for about 97 percent of the routers imported to Nepal, while routers are also imported to Nepal from other 20 countries including Taiwan, Latvia, Mexico and Thailand.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Along with the import of routers, the customs revenue has also increased significantly. In the last Fiscal Year 2077/78, the government collected revenue of Rs 400 million from import of routers. With internet service becoming more accessible in Nepal, the demand for routers is likely to increase in the future.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-22', 'modified' => '2021-08-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13598', 'image' => '20210822040147_Linksys-Max-Stream-Mesh-WiFi-5-Router-MR6350.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-22 16:00:51', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = falsesimplexml_load_file - [internal], line ?? include - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 60 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
Notice (8): Undefined variable: file [APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 133]Code Context// $file = 'http://aabhiyan:QUVLg8Wzs2F7G9N7@nepalstock.com.np/api/subindexdata.xml';if(!$xml = simplexml_load_file($file)){$viewFile = '/var/www/html/newbusinessage.com/app/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'articles' => array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ) ), 'current_user' => null, 'logged_in' => false ) $articles = array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13867', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal Imports Laptops worth Rs 8 Billion in a Year', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 25: In the last fiscal year laptops worth Rs 7.72 billion have been imported in Nepal.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">August 25: In the last fiscal year laptops worth Rs 7.72 billion have been imported in Nepal. Consumption of laptops has increased in Nepal due to the new environment created by the lockdown.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The increasing trend of online classrooms and zoom conferences, remittance inflow, access to electricity in rural areas, increasing use of laptops in teaching methods, increasing practice of online version in government services and information technology friendly society have led to increase in imports of laptops in Nepal.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">About 93 percent of Nepal's laptops are imported from China, while other major countries are Malaysia, Singapore, the United States, Indonesia and Japan.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In the Fiscal Year 2077/78, the government collected revenue of Rs. 992.67 million from laptops import.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> Import Data of Laptop in Fiscal Year 2077/78:</span></span></span></span></p> <table cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse:collapse"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:1px solid black; height:68px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Countries</span></span></strong></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:1px solid black; height:68px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Quantity in Numbers</span></span></strong></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:1px solid black; height:68px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Imported Amount in Thousand</span></span></strong></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:1px solid black; height:68px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Revenue amount in Thousand</span></span></strong></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:1px solid black; height:68px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Import Percentage</span></span></strong></span></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">China</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">130,965</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">4,241,644</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">927,725</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">93.17</span></span></span></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Malaysia</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">4,244</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">249,647</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">32,434</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">3.21</span></span></span></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Singapore</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">1,058</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">69,403</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">8,723</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">0.89</span></span></span></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">USA</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">520</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">43,528</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">4,596</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">0.56</span></span></span></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Indonesia</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">143</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">14,024</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">1,823</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">0.18</span></span></span></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Japan</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">254</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">13,732</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">1,786</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">0.18</span></span></span></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">India</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">136</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">9,654</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">1,265</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">0.12</span></span></span></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Vietnam</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">182</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">8,505</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">1,106</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">0.11</span></span></span></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Thailand</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">134</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">7,711</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">1,026</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">0.10</span></span></span></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Taiwan; China</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">108</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">6,751</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">878</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">0.09</span></span></span></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">South Korea</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">229</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">19,117</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">762</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">0.25</span></span></span></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">UAE</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">113</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">4,883</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">675</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">0.06</span></span></span></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:50px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Hongkong; China</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:50px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">117</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:50px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">4,697</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:50px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">611</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:50px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">0.06</span></span></span></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">UK</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">43</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">3,975</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">328</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">0.05</span></span></span></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Philippines</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">65</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">2,494</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">324</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">0.03</span></span></span></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Australia</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">54</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">2,219</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">297</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">0.03</span></span></span></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Egypt</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">38</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">1,547</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">201</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">0.02</span></span></span></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Germany</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">25</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">1,405</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">136</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">0.02</span></span></span></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Poland</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">54</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">5,357</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">44</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">0.07</span></span></span></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Switzerland</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">7</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">1,274</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">10</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">0.02</span></span></span></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Others</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">958</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">60,790</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">7,921</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">0.78</span></span></span></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Total</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">139,447</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">7,772,358</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">992,670</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">100.00</span></span></span></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="5" style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><em><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Source: Customs Department</span></span></em></span></span></p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-25', 'modified' => '2021-08-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13612', 'image' => '20210825011803_mi_gaming_laptop_2019_image_1565003115644.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-25 13:17:08', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13866', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'OAG Report Paints Bleak Picture of Country's Fiscal Governance ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 25: If there is something often repeated in political speeches and government documents in Nepal, it is 'good governance'. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">August 25: If there is something often repeated in political speeches and government documents in Nepal, it is 'good governance'. But, the media reports coming daily and even the periodic reports by the government bodies have shown the opposite - bad governance has afflicted the system. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Last Friday, the Office of the Auditor General (OAG) unveiled its report of the fiscal year 2019/20, showing huge arrears totaling Rs 418.85 billion to be recovered by the government. It was a hefty spending but not recognized by law. Several purchases lacked proofs. There was no billing. It is sheer financial irregularity. As per the report, in the given fiscal year, the arrears grew by Rs 530 million. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The faulty spending behaviour has plagued our political sphere and bureaucracy and it's difficult to wipe out their nexus to ward off such financial anomalies. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">For any spending by the public offices including the ministries, departments, corporations, adherence to certain laws and rules is mandatory. But the report clearly indicates how the laws were disobeyed, creating anarchy in financial administration. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Who has major role behind such non-implementation of laws and rules? It is obvious that those in power/government along with bureaucracy, the permanent government, are responsible for it. The report shows how the ministries went extravagant to enfeeble the state treasury. Misuse of state coffers mounted. Undoubtedly, it will discourage the tax payers. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The OAG prepared separate auditing reports of the activities carried by the local level, provincial governments and federal government. It is one of the most comprehensive reports that brings financial facts and also recommends measures to various sectors of government. It has made aware the stakeholders that involve in public spending of the values of transparency and public accountability. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">This time, OAG has come up with new report- separate report on COVID-19 financial management. It is another interesting area of auditing as the management of COVID-19 had drawn huge criticism in view of financial irregularities. Then, the media were rife with the news about mishandling of COVID-19 in medical purchases. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">In the wake of gradual implementation of federalism in place with the three-tier of elections and three-tier of governments, people piled hope on the system- from smooth and prompt service delivery to initiation and acceleration of development activities. The local governments were hailed and hoped of delivering public service at people's doorstep. It was expected to free the people from sufferings of unitary system where even the financial authority and development works were guided by the centre. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">To everyone's dismay, the financial conduct of local levels, where it has been devolved financial, legal and administrative rights with new form of governance, has been exposed with biting reality- double the arrears of provincial and federal government as compared to the total spending. The OAG's 58th report mentioned that among the total financial transactions, the arrears in federal government stood at Rs 2.86 per cent (Rs 44 billion) while it was 2.74 per cent (Rs 6 billion) in province government and 5 per cent in the local government (Rs 40 billion). </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The leadership now must be aware how the truth exposed by the report has dashed the public hope and eroded public trust on political parties and bureaucracy. Both the political and bureaucratic leaderships are in urgent need to revive effective and smooth public financial management and fiscal federalism from the shambles. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Reading the OAG report fully, it is fair to say that good governance is not mere a jargon for political speech to provoke public and for official documents to lure readers, but is a common commitment and translation into action, especially the political parties and bureaucracy. Isn't the OAG report a wakeup call for us? </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Interestingly, as the OAG report covers the time led by the previous government, it is yet to see how the present government evaluates the report and makes its position. No political leaders who were in the previous government have spoken anything on such egregious financial aberration. Now, is the present government able to recover the arrears and committed not to repeating such recklessness and indiscipline that dented much the public financial management? </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Nepali Congress, Sekhar Koirala tweeted, "The OAG has made public its report. The amount of arrears and irregularities is increasing. The current government should take initiative on disposal of arrears and take action accordingly. If the government has will power, it can do both of these tasks." -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-25', 'modified' => '2021-08-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13611', 'image' => '20210825092703_OAG1629582841.4.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-25 09:26:11', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13865', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NEPSE CEO Saud Resigns ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 25: Chief Executive Officer of Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) Chandra Singh Saud has resigned from his post following accusation of buying shares of a company illegally. ', 'content' => '<p><img alt="" src="/app/webroot/userfiles/images/saud.jpg" style="height:364px; width:369px" /></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">August 25: Chief Executive Officer of Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) Chandra Singh Saud has resigned from his post following accusation of buying shares of a company illegally. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Saud has been accused of purchasing 10,000 units of shares of the Sarbottam Cement in the name of his wife, as the company was preparing to introduce general shares for listing. As an office bearer of NEPSE, Saud is reportedly not allowed to buy shares in the name of his family members. The matter is currently under investigation by officials of the Ministry of Finance. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Saud tendered his resignation to the chief of the Financial Sector Management and Institution Coordination Division of the ministry, Dirgha Raj Mainali on Tuesday, August 24.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Speaking at a news conference after tendering his resignation letter, Saud said he resigned from his post to cooperate with the investigation process. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">He also claimed that he has not done anything against the norms of CEO of NEPSE.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Ministry of Finance is also investigating irregularities against Bhishma Raj Dhungana, chairperson of the Securities Board of Nepal (SEBON). Dhungana is also accused of buying the shares of Sarbottam Cement in the name of his daughter. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Finance Committee of Parliament had directed the authorities concerned last Friday to take action against SEBON Chairperson Dhungana and CEO of NEPSE Saud after their involvement in illegal share trading was covered by various media. </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-25', 'modified' => '2021-08-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13610', 'image' => '20210825091640_nepse-live-shareprice.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-25 09:15:09', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13864', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Restriction on Movement of Vehicles after 8 pm Lifted in Kathmandu Valley ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 25: Local authorities of Kathmandu Valley have lifted the restriction imposed on movement of private and public vehicles after 8:00 pm in the Valley. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">August 25: Local authorities of Kathmandu Valley have lifted the restriction imposed on movement of private and public vehicles after 8:00 pm in the Valley. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A meeting of the chief district officers of the three districts in the valley – Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur – on Tuesday (August 24) decided to lift the restriction. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Chief District Officer of Kathmandu, Kali Prasad Parajuli, informed that the restriction on movement of private and public vehicles has been lifted from immediate effect. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Meanwhile, the prohibitory order has been extended till September 1 to prevent and control COVID-19 pandemic from spreading. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The district administration offices of Kathmandu valley had imposed the prohibitory order on April 29 to curb the second wave of coronavirus. The authorities have extended the order time and again but have relaxed the rules in recent weeks. </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-25', 'modified' => '2021-08-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13609', 'image' => '20210825090032_20200903113103_1599056781.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-25 08:59:13', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13863', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NEA to Stop Power Cuts without Prior Notice', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 24: Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has started taking action against unannounced power cuts. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">August 24: Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has started taking action against unannounced power cuts. After being re-appointed as the executive director of NEA, Kulman Ghising has taken initiative to resolve the problem of power cuts without any prior notice for the welfare of the consumers.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">NEA has taken initiatives to make the power supply regular and reliable, prevent leakage, maintain financial discipline and make its service effective. In the last one year, NEA has been cutting power supply without providing prior information. When consumers make calls to the 'no light' department, officials would respond rudely. Most of the time phone calls used to go unanswered, and if the call is answered, consumers wouldn't get reliable information. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The NEA management has made necessary efforts to improve service delivery by resolving such problems after receiving complaints from customers. NEA has given top priority to improve power supply and make service delivery quick and easy.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Ghising held a virtual meeting on Monday, August 24, with the Deputy Executive Director of the Directorate of Distribution and Customer Service, all seven provincial offices, provincial division offices and branch heads to discuss the problems faced by the consumers. He directed them to take strict measures in maintaining quality power supply, improve service and maintain good discipline.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">"In order to improve the service delivery and maintain good governance within the organization, change is needed in every individual's ethical conduct," he said. He urged the officials to undertake their work by displaying a high level of ethical behaviour and without coming under pressure from anyone. He also said customers should be provided with three-phase meters as soon as they demand it, and work should be started immediately to strengthen and upgrade transmission and distribution structures and scrap the agreement with inefficient contractors.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">"In order to control the expenses, the stock of goods should be reduced by making maximum use of the old goods in the store, control over the purchase of new goods, auction of useless goods and timely maintenance of transformers," said Ghising. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">NEA has also introduced new provisions to improve the conduct of its employees which would add additional financial burden to the organization.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-24', 'modified' => '2021-08-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13608', 'image' => '20210824023821_20210514031053_NEA.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-24 14:37:30', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13862', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Delays Procurement of Subsidized Sugar ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 24: The government’s negligence has caused delay in purchase of subsidized sugar. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">August 24: The government’s negligence has caused delay in purchase of subsidized sugar. Lack of coordination between the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, which is responsible for giving permission to procure sugar at subsidized rate, and the Ministry of Finance, which releases budget, is the main reason behind the delay in procurement.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">According to the Salt Trading Corporation, which has been given the responsibility of buying subsidized sugar, they had sent a letter to the MoICS about a year ago seeking permission to buy sugar. At that time, due to the negligence of the Ministry of Commerce, the STC could not get permission to buy sugar. After a delay of about eight months, the Ministry of Commerce had sent a letter to the Ministry of Finance last April to allow the STC to buy 30,000 tons of sugar. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Urmila KC, under secretary at the MoICS, said that the Ministry of Finance is yet to respond to the letter. According to her, their repeated requests to the Ministry of Finance have fallen in deaf ears. Meanwhile, the finance ministry said the delay was due to a change of government. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">At present, the Salt Trading Corporation has only about 300 tons of sugar in stock. The STC cannot sell more than 2 kg of sugar per person due to the fear of running out of stock as the stock is insufficient. Due to this, consumers have to buy sugar at high prices in the market. The STC said that they will not be able to give subsidized sugar to the customers for festivals like Dashain and Tihar even if they are allowed to buy sugar now. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The spokesperson of STC Kumar Raj Bhandari said that even if they are allowed to buy sugar now, it takes about 45 days to complete the tender process and about two months for the sugar to reach Nepal. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">According to stakeholders, Nepal usually consumes about 30,000 tons of sugar in a month. It is estimated that up to 70,000 tons of sugar is consumed in big festivals including Dashain, Tihar and Chhath. As per the government statistics, Nepali sugar industries produce up to 170,000 tons of sugar annually, while the rest of the insufficient sugar is imported from other countries. This year, Nepal produced only 150,000 tons of sugar. </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-24', 'modified' => '2021-08-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13607', 'image' => '20210824021607_20190103041621_aaaaaaa.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-24 14:15:16', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13860', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NOC Hikes Price of Petroleum Products ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 24: Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has increased the price of petroleum products effective from August 24.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">August 24: Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has increased the price of petroleum products effective from August 24.</span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to NOC, the prices of petrol, diesel and kerosene have been increased by Rs 2 per litre. With this, the price of petrol has reached Rs 130 per litre. Similarly, diesel and kerosene are being traded at Rs 113 per litre. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The price of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) has also gone up by Rs 25 per cylinder. With this, the price of LPG has reached Rs 1,450 per cylinder. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Aviation fuel for domestic consumption has increased by Rs 2 per litre and reached Rs 86 while aviation fuel for international flights has been fixed at US$ 770 per kilo litre with an increase of US$ 16 per kilo litre. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The NOC added that it is still bearing loss of Rs 8.42 per litre in petrol, Rs 2.64 in diesel and Rs 420.75 per cylinder of LPG even after increasing the price. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">NOC Spokesperson, Binitmani Upadhyay, said that the NOC increased the price of petroleum products after facing a loss of Rs 1.15 billion in the last 15 days as per the latest price list received from the Indian Oil Corporation. -- RSS </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-24', 'modified' => '2021-08-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13606', 'image' => '20210824101943_20210707102647_20190503125003_Petrol-Price-Increase.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-24 10:18:43', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13861', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NTA Starts Viability Study on Assembling Mobile Phones in Nepal', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 24: Nepal Telecommunication Authority (NTA) has started a feasibility study for assembling mobile phones in Nepal. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">August 24: Nepal Telecommunication Authority (NTA) has started a feasibility study for assembling mobile phones in Nepal. NTA has initiated the study to reduce the country’s trade deficit by assembling mobile phones within the country in the context of smart phones worth billions of rupees being imported every year.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Imports of mobile phones in Nepal have skyrocketed after the Covid-19 pandemic. According to the Nepal Mobile Phone Association of Nepal, in the last fiscal year 2077/78 alone, more than 4 million sets of mobile phones worth Rs 37.40 billion have been imported in the country.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">NTA has formed a seven-member committee led by NTA spokesperson Min Prasad Aryal to study the issue.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The committee has studied the prospect of assembling and refurbishing mobile phones in Nepal. Assembling means making mobiles in Nepal by bringing parts from abroad, while refurbishing means repairing damaged mobiles and making them new. The committee has suggested that mobile phones can be produced and refurbished in Nepal by providing necessary facilitation to mobile phone importers and industrialists.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">However, this is only the first draft of the study. NTA is preparing to conduct a detailed feasibility study in the coming days in coordination with concerned industrialists.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">NTA Chairman Purushottam Khanal said that a study has been started on how to facilitate taxes, how to set up industries, how many mobiles can be imported, how much manpower is needed, how many phones can be assembled and refurbished in Nepal and what are the possibilities and challenges of assembling.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">"The report has recommended for a detailed study," said Khanal. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Although the authority has started the study, businessmen seem to be against the idea. At present, 2.5 percent excise duty in addition to 13 percent VAT is levied on the import of mobile phones in Nepal and no other customs duty is charged. Businessmen argue that assembling parts here is more expensive than importing readymade sets because of the 5 percent customs duty on importing parts. For this reason, businessmen are not in favor of assembling mobile phones in Nepal.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Deepak Malhotra, president of the Nepal Mobile Phone Importers' Association, says that the mobile assembly industry is not possible in Nepal due to various reasons including the high cost of importing parts, lack of investment, manpower and market. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-24', 'modified' => '2021-08-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13605', 'image' => '20210824103826_20201019114758_1603066095.34 2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-24 10:37:43', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13859', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'OAG Report Raises Serious Question over Existence of Investment Board', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 23: The Office of the Auditor General has raised serious questions over the legitimacy of the Investment Board.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">August 23: The Office of the Auditor General has raised serious questions over the legitimacy of the Investment Board. Within three years of its establishment, the existence of the Investment Board has been questioned by the constitutional body for its poor performance although the government had set up the Board as per the Public-Private Partnership and Investment Act, 2075 for the construction of infrastructure, mobilization of domestic and foreign resources and promotion of investment.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">A recent report by the Auditor General, a constitutional body that has been auditing the country's public resources as well as government revenue and expenses, has questioned the legitimacy of the Investment Board.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">According to the report, the Investment Board has not been able to work as intended and is misusing the state treasury by receiving salary benefits only. Similarly, the expenses incurred in the administrative tasks of the board is also unreasonable so the current structure should be reviewed if the board continues to perform its duties like this. In the fiscal Year 2019/20, the government had allocated Rs 504 million for the board but it could spend only Rs 42.33 million. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The report states the board has been ineffective in evaluation, monitoring and preparation of agreement papers of 50 projects in 2019.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">According to the OAG report, the board has failed to establish Public-Private Partnership Unit. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The programs specified by the Investment Board in its annual program are not implemented but salary and other allowance has been received by the board members, the report further stated. The report says, "the Investment should operate in accordance with its objectives otherwise the current structure should be reviewed."</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Maheshwar Kafle, Deputy Auditor General, said the detailed report of the OAG has highlighted the real performance of the Investment Board so it should act in accordance with its objectives. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">“We have highlighted the real indicators that need to be corrected. The concerned ministry and department should play an important role to bring reform in the board. The Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee should also issue necessary instructions,” added Kafle.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-23', 'modified' => '2021-08-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13604', 'image' => '20210823044910_MG_3290.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-23 16:48:20', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13858', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'OAG Concerned About the Delay in Ownership Transfer of Khimti Hydropower Project ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 23: The Office of the Auditor General (OAG) has raised concern regarding the delay in the transfer of ownership of the Khimti Hydropower Project. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">August 23: The Office of the Auditor General (OAG) has raised concern regarding the delay in the transfer of ownership of the Khimti Hydropower Project. The Auditor General has raised the issue in the 58th Annual Report (2076/77). </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">As per the pre-agreement between the Government of Nepal and the promoter company Himal Power Limited, 50 percent share ownership of the 60 MW project was to be provided to Nepal Electricity Authority on July 11, 2020. However, the ownership of the project could not be transferred within the stipulated time. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The ownership of the project has not been transferred till date. Currently, the project is being operated by signing an interim agreement between Himal Power and NEA. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The project had started commercial power generation from July 2000. As per the agreement between the government and the promoter company, 50 percent share ownership of the project was to be given to NEA free of cost 20 years after the start of power generation. However, the report of the Auditor General states that the necessary process has not been completed. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In order to transfer ownership of the project, a separate company owned by both NEA and the promoter company has to be set up. However, the report states that no such company has been established. In addition, the company has to sign a new power purchase agreement with NEA. The report states that such process has not been completed due to which the transfer of ownership was delayed. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The auditor general has also raised questions about the company's share trading. According to the report, the project is expected to generate 350 million kilowatts of electricity per hour. A Norwegian company, the largest shareholder in the company, has already calculated that the profit from the transfer of 50 percent ownership of the company from July 11, 2020 will be Rs 119 million Norwegian kroner. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">A Nepali company owns 16.90 percent shares in Himal Power. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Khimti is the first hydropower project constructed with the investment of private sector. It is also the first project to be handed over to the government by the private sector. Therefore, the issue of transfer of ownership of this project is considered very important. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Himal Power Company has investments from Butwal Power Company Limited, Statcraft SF of Norway and Alstom Power S among others. </span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-23', 'modified' => '2021-08-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13603', 'image' => '20210823010727_20210119023725_1611012723.Clipboard02.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-23 13:06:41', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13856', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Fostering Resilience of Women-Led Businesses Project Kicks Off', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 23: Thulo.Com, an e-commerce market, along with Enterprise for Management, Economic Reform and Gender Equality (EMERGE) is implementing a project ‘Fostering Resilience of Women-Led Businesses and Consumers’ with support from USAID’s Tayar Nepal - Improved Disaster Risk Management Project.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Gill Sans MT","sans-serif"">August 23: Thulo.Com, an e-commerce market, along with Enterprise for Management, Economic Reform and Gender Equality (EMERGE) is implementing a project ‘Fostering Resilience of Women-Led Businesses and Consumers’ with support from USAID’s Tayar Nepal - Improved Disaster Risk Management Project - to support home-based women producers from both formal and informal sector in the wake of Covid-19 pandemic.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Gill Sans MT","sans-serif"">The project aims to provide a platform to home-based women producers and equip them with necessary skills and information to become resilient during disasters beyond COVID-19.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Gill Sans MT","sans-serif"">In this regard, Thulo.Com and EMERGE conducted a virtual inception meeting on 18th August 2021, reads a joint statement issued by the organisers. The participants of the programme included women entrepreneurs, representatives from various ministries, local government, banks, insurance, tech companies, development agencies, private sector organizations, and media.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Gill Sans MT","sans-serif"">Welcoming the participants of the programme, Dr, Mona Shrestha Adhikari, CEO of EMERGE, shed light on the objectives of the project. She mentioned that the main objectives behind this project are to impart skills on Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) for holistic business management and to enhance the economic resilience of women-led businesses. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Gill Sans MT","sans-serif"">The project’s geographical focus is on five provinces, which include 10 districts and 15 municipalities. She also shared that they are collaborating with organizations namely SAARC Business Association of Home-Based Workers (SABAH Nepal), National Indigenous Disabled Women Association Nepal (NIDWAN), Federation of Business and Professional Women Nepal (FBPWN), and Federation of Women with Disability-Nepal (FWDN) along with four municipalities: Birendranagar, Surkhet district; Godavari, Kailali district; Neelakantha, Dhading district; and Tulsipur sub-metropolitan city, Dang district - that are working areas of USAID’s Tayar Nepal.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Gill Sans MT","sans-serif"">In her opening remarks Tammie Harris of Tayar Nepal shared that this project is an extension of last year’s pilot project named “Revitalizing Women’s Businesses Amidst COVID-19 Pandemic”. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Gill Sans MT","sans-serif"">She expressed her belief that this project will equip women entrepreneurs and producers with tools to enhance their business resilience and to assist them to explore more entrepreneurship opportunities in producing the products that will contribute to enhancing the resilience of communities. She also appreciated the in-kind contribution of Thulo and the EMERGE team to this project.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Gill Sans MT","sans-serif"">Durga Prasad Bhusal, under-secretary, Ministry of Industry Commerce and Supplies (MOICS), expressed that this project is perfectly timed to grab the opportunities presented by e-commerce and mitigate the challenges brought by the disasters like COVID-19 pandemic. On behalf of MOICS, Under Secretary Bhusal expressed enthusiasm in supporting this project and beyond to enable MSMEs including women businesses to benefit from e-commerce regulations and plans of the government. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Gill Sans MT","sans-serif"">Surakchya Adhikari, COO of Thulo.Com, and the focal person of the project, shared the activities that will be covered during the project period. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Gill Sans MT","sans-serif"">She highlighted the effort of being as inclusive as possible by including project beneficiaries from formal and informal businesses, both urban and rural areas as well as from marginalized and socially excluded communities such as women with disabilities and women from ethnic groups. She highlighted that the project aims to upskill 120 women entrepreneurs and home based producers among which 40 will get access to online promotion and sales along with developing a dedicated App to disseminate information related to DRRM.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Gill Sans MT","sans-serif"">Ambica Shrestha, president, FBPWN, stressed that many women entrepreneurs are home based and in today’s time digitization of business is essential. </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-23', 'modified' => '2021-08-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13602', 'image' => '20210823123006_Inception Meeting.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-23 12:29:01', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13855', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NEA Prepares to Launch Bright and Clean City Campaign ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 23: Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) is preparing to launch the ‘Bright and Clean City Campaign’ with the objective of illuminating and beautifying the cities across the country.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">August 23: Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) is preparing to launch the ‘Bright and Clean City Campaign’ with the objective of illuminating and beautifying the cities across the country. NEA has initiated the campaign under the government’s Bright Nepal Campaign. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">As a part of the campaign, sophisticated smart lights would be installed in various places including historical and cultural heritage sites and major thoroughfares in the city areas. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif""> Newly appointed Executive Director of NEA Kulman Ghising shared that the campaign would utilize the power that goes to waste during the night time and will help further illuminate the city areas. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Ghising, who played a vital role in reducing power cuts during his previous term as NEA Executive Director, is now focusing on improving the quality of electricity and to increase electricity consumption. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Under this campaign, NEA plans to remove unnecessary and unmanaged electric poles and properly manage the power supply cables that are being laid underground. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to Ghising, the campaign would begin from Kathmandu, Bharatpur and Pokhara in the first phase and gradually expand to other cities in the country. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Earlier, Minister for Energy and Irrigation, Pampha Bhusal, had shared her plan while assuming the office to manage and strengthen the power supply system by maintaining the beauty of the cities. This campaign is being launched in line with the announcement made by the minister. </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-23', 'modified' => '2021-08-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13601', 'image' => '20210823091945_20190101025132_DSC_0021.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-23 09:18:50', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13857', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Second Batch of Vaccines arrives in Nepal from Japan', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 23: An additional 200,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines have arrived in Nepal. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">August 23: An additional 200,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines have arrived in Nepal. According to the Ministry of Health and Population, 208,700 doses out of 1.6 million doses provided by Japan under the Covax facility have arrived in the country on Saturday morning.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Earlier, 900,000 doses of vaccine had arrived in Nepal on August 6 and 7. The vaccine is administered to citizens over the age of 25 as the second dose of Covishield. As AstraZeneca and Covishield are vaccines of the same nature produced in different locations, the ministry is using Covishield as an alternative.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Indian company Serum Institute Pvt. Ltd. is producing Covishield vaccine in collaboration with Oxford University and AstraZeneca. The government of Nepal had started the vaccination campaign with 1 million doses of Covishield vaccine provided by India on January 27 last year. Later, Nepal purchased 2 million vaccines on February 21. So far, India has provided only 1 million doses of vaccines.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The ministry has decided to use AstraZeneca as an alternative to Covishield in the first week of June after it was confirmed that the vaccine would not be provided by India. Chief of the Vaccination Management Division, Jhalak Sharma Gautam said that out of the 1.6 million vaccines provided by Japan, 1.1 million vaccines have already arrived in Nepal and the remaining 500,000 vaccines will arrive in Nepal on Monday. The new vaccine will be given to the ones who received the first dose of Covishield in Provinces 1 and 2.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the ministry, a total of 8,770,664 people have been vaccinated against Covid-19, including 4,935,056 people receiving the first dose and 3,835,608 receiving the second as of Saturday (August 21).</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-23', 'modified' => '2021-08-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13600', 'image' => '20210823010019_20210523010929__117616854_hi066285277.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-23 12:59:36', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13854', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'OAG Report Points out Widespread Anomalies and Irregularities', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 22: The 58th annual report of the Office of the Auditor General (OAG) published by the Auditor General reveals a surge in financial irregularities and anomalies. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">August 22: The 58th annual report of the Office of the Auditor General (OAG) published by the Auditor General reveals a surge in financial irregularities and anomalies. The report states that the government bodies themselves have worked against the Financial Procedure Act and Fiscal Responsibility Act. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The report shows that the transactions have been carried out without fulfilling the required procedures and keeping its records. In the fiscal year 2019/20 alone, audit reports of federal, state, and local government office as well as other organizations and committees have shown arrears of Rs 439 billion. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, the foreign grant which needs to be reimbursed is Rs 9.13 billion and the loan amount is Rs 12.73 billion. The volume of loan acquired by the government along with interest during the review period amounts Rs 2.5 billion. The report shows that the total amount of loan that needs to be settled is Rs 676.41 billion an increase from last year’s amount of Rs 664.44 billion.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><em><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Rs 40 billion arrears at local level</span></span></em></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the report, the local governments alone have arrears of Rs 40 billion. Of it, Rs 5.47 billion has to be recovered, Rs 10.75 billion has been misappropriated, Rs 17.16 billion lacks the required documents and Rs 10.6 million has not been reimbursed, while Rs 7.7 billion advance needs to be returned back. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The total amount of arrears at the local level has reached Rs 103.37 billion. Arrears of the previous fiscal year is Rs 622 billion.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><em><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Haphazard expenses</span></span></em></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The report points out anomalies in the preparation and distribution of the budget. Like in the previous year, a big volume of budget was introduced and huge expenses have been made at the end of the fiscal year along with reckless transfer of money. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Although Rule 33 of the Financial Procedure Rules-2064 mentions that the accounts should be closed before the end of the fiscal year (July 9 of this fiscal year), Rs 210.19 billion has been spent in the month of July alone. Of the total budget expenditure, Rs 1.91 billion alone has been spent in the last week of Asadh (mid-July). So the Auditor General has asked the government to control the payment and expenditure in the last week of Ashadh.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><em><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Procurement of medical goods flouting the law</span></span></em></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The 58th report has pointed out that the government has procured medical items going against the law. It has claimed that it is against the law to enter into an agreement with an individual who has not been assigned responsibility for this purpose. The government had made an agreement with the Omni Group to purchase health products after the second case of COVID-19 was detected in the country. The report of the Auditor General states that a committee was formed without following the provisions specified in the Act. Also, the goods purchased by Omni Group were used without conducting any technical examination. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><em><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Vehicles purchased flouting rules</span></span></em></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the OAG report, the local governments have purchased vehicles illegally. In the Fiscal Year 2019/20, the local level spent Rs 133 billion on vehicle procurement. Although the Ministry of Finance had issued directive preventing the purchase of vehicles for regular use of the office from the budget provided by the government, the local government purchased vehicles flouting the issued directive. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><em><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">MCC and Fast Track irregularities</span></span></em></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The report has revealed the Millennium Challenge Account Nepal under the US-funded Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) grant has misappropriated funds of Rs 200 million on the pretext of consulting services. "By appointing a consultant as a financial agent and agreeing to pay $ 5.05 million to each consultant, so far Rs 20.83 million has been spent," the report states. MCA Nepal has spent the money by appointing a consultant as a financial agent to keep track of the initial phase of financial transactions and recommend payments and financial transactions.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The report shows that after spending a large amount of money, the Nepalese Army canceled 14 contracts related to the Kathmandu-Terai Fast Track terming it to be unnecessary and inappropriate. Cancelling the process and contract after making payment of Rs 3.74 billion is itself an act of financial irregularity, states the report. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><em><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Income Tax not paid</span></span></em></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">It has been found that the banks and financial institutions have not even paid the income tax. According to the report, 24 commercial banks and 13 insurance companies have earned Rs 11.63 billion through FPOs and share auctions. Thirty percent tax applied to these transactions amount to Rs 3.48 billion. However, it seems that the revenue has been waived off. The report states that the tax should be assessed and collected after required investigation.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The report also speaks of the malpractice in the transfer of right shares. In the case of payment made by one person transferring property to another person, the amount equal to the market value of the property has to be verified but the tax has been assessed without verifying the capital gains. The OAG report states tax worth Rs 106.86 million to be received under the Income Tax Act, 2058 should be assessed and collected.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, as per the agreement reached between the banks and financial institutions for merger, the report has decided to assess and collect the tax and interest of Rs 4.47 billion as per the Income Tax Act.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><em><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Big companies evading tax</span></span></em></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The OAG report has found multinational and other large companies to be evading tax. Gorkha Brewery has evaded tax of around Rs 1 billion, Bottlers Nepal which has been producing soft drinks including Coca-Cola, Sprite and Fanta in the country has evaded capital gains tax applicable in transfer of ownership. Similarly, the report shows that Coca-Cola has to pay more than Rs 250 billion tax. Seven airline companies have evaded tax worth Rs 51.98 million applicable in airline tickets.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">On the other hand, OAG report has suggested bringing social apps and sites operating without being registered under the tax net. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><br /> <br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-22', 'modified' => '2021-08-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13599', 'image' => '20210822043921_new-logo1_20210821142644.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-22 16:38:38', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13852', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal Imports Routers Worth Rs 2.16 Billion in Last Fiscal Year', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 22: The data published by the Department of Customs shows that Nepal imported routers worth Rs 2.16 billion in the last fiscal year. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">August 22: The data published by the Department of Customs shows that Nepal imported routers worth Rs 2.16 billion in the last fiscal year. With the increase in the use of internet, the demand for routers has also increased in recent years in Nepal. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">China accounts for about 97 percent of the routers imported to Nepal, while routers are also imported to Nepal from other 20 countries including Taiwan, Latvia, Mexico and Thailand.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Along with the import of routers, the customs revenue has also increased significantly. In the last Fiscal Year 2077/78, the government collected revenue of Rs 400 million from import of routers. With internet service becoming more accessible in Nepal, the demand for routers is likely to increase in the future.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-22', 'modified' => '2021-08-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13598', 'image' => '20210822040147_Linksys-Max-Stream-Mesh-WiFi-5-Router-MR6350.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-22 16:00:51', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = false $xml = falseinclude - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 133 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
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Consumption of laptops has increased in Nepal due to the new environment created by the lockdown.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The increasing trend of online classrooms and zoom conferences, remittance inflow, access to electricity in rural areas, increasing use of laptops in teaching methods, increasing practice of online version in government services and information technology friendly society have led to increase in imports of laptops in Nepal.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">About 93 percent of Nepal's laptops are imported from China, while other major countries are Malaysia, Singapore, the United States, Indonesia and Japan.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In the Fiscal Year 2077/78, the government collected revenue of Rs. 992.67 million from laptops import.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> Import Data of Laptop in Fiscal Year 2077/78:</span></span></span></span></p> <table cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse:collapse"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:1px solid black; height:68px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Countries</span></span></strong></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:1px solid black; height:68px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Quantity in Numbers</span></span></strong></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:1px solid black; height:68px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Imported Amount in Thousand</span></span></strong></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:1px solid black; height:68px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Revenue amount in Thousand</span></span></strong></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:1px solid black; height:68px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Import Percentage</span></span></strong></span></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">China</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">130,965</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">4,241,644</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">927,725</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">93.17</span></span></span></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Malaysia</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">4,244</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">249,647</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">32,434</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">3.21</span></span></span></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Singapore</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">1,058</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">69,403</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">8,723</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">0.89</span></span></span></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">USA</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">520</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">43,528</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">4,596</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">0.56</span></span></span></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Indonesia</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">143</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">14,024</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">1,823</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">0.18</span></span></span></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Japan</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">254</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">13,732</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">1,786</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">0.18</span></span></span></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">India</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">136</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">9,654</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">1,265</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">0.12</span></span></span></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Vietnam</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">182</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">8,505</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">1,106</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">0.11</span></span></span></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Thailand</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">134</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">7,711</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">1,026</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">0.10</span></span></span></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Taiwan; China</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">108</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">6,751</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">878</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">0.09</span></span></span></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">South Korea</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">229</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">19,117</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">762</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">0.25</span></span></span></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">UAE</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">113</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">4,883</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">675</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">0.06</span></span></span></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:50px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Hongkong; China</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:50px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">117</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:50px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">4,697</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:50px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">611</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:50px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">0.06</span></span></span></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">UK</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">43</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">3,975</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">328</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">0.05</span></span></span></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Philippines</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">65</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">2,494</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">324</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">0.03</span></span></span></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Australia</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">54</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">2,219</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">297</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">0.03</span></span></span></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Egypt</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">38</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">1,547</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">201</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">0.02</span></span></span></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Germany</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">25</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">1,405</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">136</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">0.02</span></span></span></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Poland</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">54</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">5,357</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">44</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">0.07</span></span></span></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Switzerland</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">7</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">1,274</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">10</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">0.02</span></span></span></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Others</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">958</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">60,790</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">7,921</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">0.78</span></span></span></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Total</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">139,447</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">7,772,358</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">992,670</span></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">100.00</span></span></span></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="5" style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; height:32px; vertical-align:top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><em><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Source: Customs Department</span></span></em></span></span></p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-25', 'modified' => '2021-08-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13612', 'image' => '20210825011803_mi_gaming_laptop_2019_image_1565003115644.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-25 13:17:08', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13866', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'OAG Report Paints Bleak Picture of Country's Fiscal Governance ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 25: If there is something often repeated in political speeches and government documents in Nepal, it is 'good governance'. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">August 25: If there is something often repeated in political speeches and government documents in Nepal, it is 'good governance'. But, the media reports coming daily and even the periodic reports by the government bodies have shown the opposite - bad governance has afflicted the system. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Last Friday, the Office of the Auditor General (OAG) unveiled its report of the fiscal year 2019/20, showing huge arrears totaling Rs 418.85 billion to be recovered by the government. It was a hefty spending but not recognized by law. Several purchases lacked proofs. There was no billing. It is sheer financial irregularity. As per the report, in the given fiscal year, the arrears grew by Rs 530 million. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The faulty spending behaviour has plagued our political sphere and bureaucracy and it's difficult to wipe out their nexus to ward off such financial anomalies. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">For any spending by the public offices including the ministries, departments, corporations, adherence to certain laws and rules is mandatory. But the report clearly indicates how the laws were disobeyed, creating anarchy in financial administration. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Who has major role behind such non-implementation of laws and rules? It is obvious that those in power/government along with bureaucracy, the permanent government, are responsible for it. The report shows how the ministries went extravagant to enfeeble the state treasury. Misuse of state coffers mounted. Undoubtedly, it will discourage the tax payers. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The OAG prepared separate auditing reports of the activities carried by the local level, provincial governments and federal government. It is one of the most comprehensive reports that brings financial facts and also recommends measures to various sectors of government. It has made aware the stakeholders that involve in public spending of the values of transparency and public accountability. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">This time, OAG has come up with new report- separate report on COVID-19 financial management. It is another interesting area of auditing as the management of COVID-19 had drawn huge criticism in view of financial irregularities. Then, the media were rife with the news about mishandling of COVID-19 in medical purchases. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">In the wake of gradual implementation of federalism in place with the three-tier of elections and three-tier of governments, people piled hope on the system- from smooth and prompt service delivery to initiation and acceleration of development activities. The local governments were hailed and hoped of delivering public service at people's doorstep. It was expected to free the people from sufferings of unitary system where even the financial authority and development works were guided by the centre. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">To everyone's dismay, the financial conduct of local levels, where it has been devolved financial, legal and administrative rights with new form of governance, has been exposed with biting reality- double the arrears of provincial and federal government as compared to the total spending. The OAG's 58th report mentioned that among the total financial transactions, the arrears in federal government stood at Rs 2.86 per cent (Rs 44 billion) while it was 2.74 per cent (Rs 6 billion) in province government and 5 per cent in the local government (Rs 40 billion). </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The leadership now must be aware how the truth exposed by the report has dashed the public hope and eroded public trust on political parties and bureaucracy. Both the political and bureaucratic leaderships are in urgent need to revive effective and smooth public financial management and fiscal federalism from the shambles. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Reading the OAG report fully, it is fair to say that good governance is not mere a jargon for political speech to provoke public and for official documents to lure readers, but is a common commitment and translation into action, especially the political parties and bureaucracy. Isn't the OAG report a wakeup call for us? </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Interestingly, as the OAG report covers the time led by the previous government, it is yet to see how the present government evaluates the report and makes its position. No political leaders who were in the previous government have spoken anything on such egregious financial aberration. Now, is the present government able to recover the arrears and committed not to repeating such recklessness and indiscipline that dented much the public financial management? </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Nepali Congress, Sekhar Koirala tweeted, "The OAG has made public its report. The amount of arrears and irregularities is increasing. The current government should take initiative on disposal of arrears and take action accordingly. If the government has will power, it can do both of these tasks." -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-25', 'modified' => '2021-08-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13611', 'image' => '20210825092703_OAG1629582841.4.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-25 09:26:11', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13865', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NEPSE CEO Saud Resigns ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 25: Chief Executive Officer of Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) Chandra Singh Saud has resigned from his post following accusation of buying shares of a company illegally. ', 'content' => '<p><img alt="" src="/app/webroot/userfiles/images/saud.jpg" style="height:364px; width:369px" /></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">August 25: Chief Executive Officer of Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) Chandra Singh Saud has resigned from his post following accusation of buying shares of a company illegally. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Saud has been accused of purchasing 10,000 units of shares of the Sarbottam Cement in the name of his wife, as the company was preparing to introduce general shares for listing. As an office bearer of NEPSE, Saud is reportedly not allowed to buy shares in the name of his family members. The matter is currently under investigation by officials of the Ministry of Finance. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Saud tendered his resignation to the chief of the Financial Sector Management and Institution Coordination Division of the ministry, Dirgha Raj Mainali on Tuesday, August 24.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Speaking at a news conference after tendering his resignation letter, Saud said he resigned from his post to cooperate with the investigation process. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">He also claimed that he has not done anything against the norms of CEO of NEPSE.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Ministry of Finance is also investigating irregularities against Bhishma Raj Dhungana, chairperson of the Securities Board of Nepal (SEBON). Dhungana is also accused of buying the shares of Sarbottam Cement in the name of his daughter. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Finance Committee of Parliament had directed the authorities concerned last Friday to take action against SEBON Chairperson Dhungana and CEO of NEPSE Saud after their involvement in illegal share trading was covered by various media. </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-25', 'modified' => '2021-08-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13610', 'image' => '20210825091640_nepse-live-shareprice.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-25 09:15:09', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13864', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Restriction on Movement of Vehicles after 8 pm Lifted in Kathmandu Valley ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 25: Local authorities of Kathmandu Valley have lifted the restriction imposed on movement of private and public vehicles after 8:00 pm in the Valley. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">August 25: Local authorities of Kathmandu Valley have lifted the restriction imposed on movement of private and public vehicles after 8:00 pm in the Valley. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A meeting of the chief district officers of the three districts in the valley – Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur – on Tuesday (August 24) decided to lift the restriction. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Chief District Officer of Kathmandu, Kali Prasad Parajuli, informed that the restriction on movement of private and public vehicles has been lifted from immediate effect. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Meanwhile, the prohibitory order has been extended till September 1 to prevent and control COVID-19 pandemic from spreading. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The district administration offices of Kathmandu valley had imposed the prohibitory order on April 29 to curb the second wave of coronavirus. The authorities have extended the order time and again but have relaxed the rules in recent weeks. </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-25', 'modified' => '2021-08-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13609', 'image' => '20210825090032_20200903113103_1599056781.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-25 08:59:13', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13863', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NEA to Stop Power Cuts without Prior Notice', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 24: Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has started taking action against unannounced power cuts. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">August 24: Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has started taking action against unannounced power cuts. After being re-appointed as the executive director of NEA, Kulman Ghising has taken initiative to resolve the problem of power cuts without any prior notice for the welfare of the consumers.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">NEA has taken initiatives to make the power supply regular and reliable, prevent leakage, maintain financial discipline and make its service effective. In the last one year, NEA has been cutting power supply without providing prior information. When consumers make calls to the 'no light' department, officials would respond rudely. Most of the time phone calls used to go unanswered, and if the call is answered, consumers wouldn't get reliable information. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The NEA management has made necessary efforts to improve service delivery by resolving such problems after receiving complaints from customers. NEA has given top priority to improve power supply and make service delivery quick and easy.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Ghising held a virtual meeting on Monday, August 24, with the Deputy Executive Director of the Directorate of Distribution and Customer Service, all seven provincial offices, provincial division offices and branch heads to discuss the problems faced by the consumers. He directed them to take strict measures in maintaining quality power supply, improve service and maintain good discipline.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">"In order to improve the service delivery and maintain good governance within the organization, change is needed in every individual's ethical conduct," he said. He urged the officials to undertake their work by displaying a high level of ethical behaviour and without coming under pressure from anyone. He also said customers should be provided with three-phase meters as soon as they demand it, and work should be started immediately to strengthen and upgrade transmission and distribution structures and scrap the agreement with inefficient contractors.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">"In order to control the expenses, the stock of goods should be reduced by making maximum use of the old goods in the store, control over the purchase of new goods, auction of useless goods and timely maintenance of transformers," said Ghising. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">NEA has also introduced new provisions to improve the conduct of its employees which would add additional financial burden to the organization.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-24', 'modified' => '2021-08-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13608', 'image' => '20210824023821_20210514031053_NEA.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-24 14:37:30', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13862', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Delays Procurement of Subsidized Sugar ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 24: The government’s negligence has caused delay in purchase of subsidized sugar. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">August 24: The government’s negligence has caused delay in purchase of subsidized sugar. Lack of coordination between the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, which is responsible for giving permission to procure sugar at subsidized rate, and the Ministry of Finance, which releases budget, is the main reason behind the delay in procurement.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">According to the Salt Trading Corporation, which has been given the responsibility of buying subsidized sugar, they had sent a letter to the MoICS about a year ago seeking permission to buy sugar. At that time, due to the negligence of the Ministry of Commerce, the STC could not get permission to buy sugar. After a delay of about eight months, the Ministry of Commerce had sent a letter to the Ministry of Finance last April to allow the STC to buy 30,000 tons of sugar. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Urmila KC, under secretary at the MoICS, said that the Ministry of Finance is yet to respond to the letter. According to her, their repeated requests to the Ministry of Finance have fallen in deaf ears. Meanwhile, the finance ministry said the delay was due to a change of government. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">At present, the Salt Trading Corporation has only about 300 tons of sugar in stock. The STC cannot sell more than 2 kg of sugar per person due to the fear of running out of stock as the stock is insufficient. Due to this, consumers have to buy sugar at high prices in the market. The STC said that they will not be able to give subsidized sugar to the customers for festivals like Dashain and Tihar even if they are allowed to buy sugar now. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The spokesperson of STC Kumar Raj Bhandari said that even if they are allowed to buy sugar now, it takes about 45 days to complete the tender process and about two months for the sugar to reach Nepal. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">According to stakeholders, Nepal usually consumes about 30,000 tons of sugar in a month. It is estimated that up to 70,000 tons of sugar is consumed in big festivals including Dashain, Tihar and Chhath. As per the government statistics, Nepali sugar industries produce up to 170,000 tons of sugar annually, while the rest of the insufficient sugar is imported from other countries. This year, Nepal produced only 150,000 tons of sugar. </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-24', 'modified' => '2021-08-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13607', 'image' => '20210824021607_20190103041621_aaaaaaa.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-24 14:15:16', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13860', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NOC Hikes Price of Petroleum Products ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 24: Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has increased the price of petroleum products effective from August 24.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">August 24: Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has increased the price of petroleum products effective from August 24.</span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to NOC, the prices of petrol, diesel and kerosene have been increased by Rs 2 per litre. With this, the price of petrol has reached Rs 130 per litre. Similarly, diesel and kerosene are being traded at Rs 113 per litre. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The price of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) has also gone up by Rs 25 per cylinder. With this, the price of LPG has reached Rs 1,450 per cylinder. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Aviation fuel for domestic consumption has increased by Rs 2 per litre and reached Rs 86 while aviation fuel for international flights has been fixed at US$ 770 per kilo litre with an increase of US$ 16 per kilo litre. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The NOC added that it is still bearing loss of Rs 8.42 per litre in petrol, Rs 2.64 in diesel and Rs 420.75 per cylinder of LPG even after increasing the price. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">NOC Spokesperson, Binitmani Upadhyay, said that the NOC increased the price of petroleum products after facing a loss of Rs 1.15 billion in the last 15 days as per the latest price list received from the Indian Oil Corporation. -- RSS </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-24', 'modified' => '2021-08-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13606', 'image' => '20210824101943_20210707102647_20190503125003_Petrol-Price-Increase.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-24 10:18:43', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13861', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NTA Starts Viability Study on Assembling Mobile Phones in Nepal', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 24: Nepal Telecommunication Authority (NTA) has started a feasibility study for assembling mobile phones in Nepal. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">August 24: Nepal Telecommunication Authority (NTA) has started a feasibility study for assembling mobile phones in Nepal. NTA has initiated the study to reduce the country’s trade deficit by assembling mobile phones within the country in the context of smart phones worth billions of rupees being imported every year.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Imports of mobile phones in Nepal have skyrocketed after the Covid-19 pandemic. According to the Nepal Mobile Phone Association of Nepal, in the last fiscal year 2077/78 alone, more than 4 million sets of mobile phones worth Rs 37.40 billion have been imported in the country.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">NTA has formed a seven-member committee led by NTA spokesperson Min Prasad Aryal to study the issue.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The committee has studied the prospect of assembling and refurbishing mobile phones in Nepal. Assembling means making mobiles in Nepal by bringing parts from abroad, while refurbishing means repairing damaged mobiles and making them new. The committee has suggested that mobile phones can be produced and refurbished in Nepal by providing necessary facilitation to mobile phone importers and industrialists.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">However, this is only the first draft of the study. NTA is preparing to conduct a detailed feasibility study in the coming days in coordination with concerned industrialists.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">NTA Chairman Purushottam Khanal said that a study has been started on how to facilitate taxes, how to set up industries, how many mobiles can be imported, how much manpower is needed, how many phones can be assembled and refurbished in Nepal and what are the possibilities and challenges of assembling.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">"The report has recommended for a detailed study," said Khanal. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Although the authority has started the study, businessmen seem to be against the idea. At present, 2.5 percent excise duty in addition to 13 percent VAT is levied on the import of mobile phones in Nepal and no other customs duty is charged. Businessmen argue that assembling parts here is more expensive than importing readymade sets because of the 5 percent customs duty on importing parts. For this reason, businessmen are not in favor of assembling mobile phones in Nepal.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Deepak Malhotra, president of the Nepal Mobile Phone Importers' Association, says that the mobile assembly industry is not possible in Nepal due to various reasons including the high cost of importing parts, lack of investment, manpower and market. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-24', 'modified' => '2021-08-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13605', 'image' => '20210824103826_20201019114758_1603066095.34 2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-24 10:37:43', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13859', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'OAG Report Raises Serious Question over Existence of Investment Board', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 23: The Office of the Auditor General has raised serious questions over the legitimacy of the Investment Board.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">August 23: The Office of the Auditor General has raised serious questions over the legitimacy of the Investment Board. Within three years of its establishment, the existence of the Investment Board has been questioned by the constitutional body for its poor performance although the government had set up the Board as per the Public-Private Partnership and Investment Act, 2075 for the construction of infrastructure, mobilization of domestic and foreign resources and promotion of investment.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">A recent report by the Auditor General, a constitutional body that has been auditing the country's public resources as well as government revenue and expenses, has questioned the legitimacy of the Investment Board.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">According to the report, the Investment Board has not been able to work as intended and is misusing the state treasury by receiving salary benefits only. Similarly, the expenses incurred in the administrative tasks of the board is also unreasonable so the current structure should be reviewed if the board continues to perform its duties like this. In the fiscal Year 2019/20, the government had allocated Rs 504 million for the board but it could spend only Rs 42.33 million. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The report states the board has been ineffective in evaluation, monitoring and preparation of agreement papers of 50 projects in 2019.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">According to the OAG report, the board has failed to establish Public-Private Partnership Unit. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The programs specified by the Investment Board in its annual program are not implemented but salary and other allowance has been received by the board members, the report further stated. The report says, "the Investment should operate in accordance with its objectives otherwise the current structure should be reviewed."</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Maheshwar Kafle, Deputy Auditor General, said the detailed report of the OAG has highlighted the real performance of the Investment Board so it should act in accordance with its objectives. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">“We have highlighted the real indicators that need to be corrected. The concerned ministry and department should play an important role to bring reform in the board. The Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee should also issue necessary instructions,” added Kafle.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-23', 'modified' => '2021-08-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13604', 'image' => '20210823044910_MG_3290.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-23 16:48:20', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13858', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'OAG Concerned About the Delay in Ownership Transfer of Khimti Hydropower Project ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 23: The Office of the Auditor General (OAG) has raised concern regarding the delay in the transfer of ownership of the Khimti Hydropower Project. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">August 23: The Office of the Auditor General (OAG) has raised concern regarding the delay in the transfer of ownership of the Khimti Hydropower Project. The Auditor General has raised the issue in the 58th Annual Report (2076/77). </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">As per the pre-agreement between the Government of Nepal and the promoter company Himal Power Limited, 50 percent share ownership of the 60 MW project was to be provided to Nepal Electricity Authority on July 11, 2020. However, the ownership of the project could not be transferred within the stipulated time. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The ownership of the project has not been transferred till date. Currently, the project is being operated by signing an interim agreement between Himal Power and NEA. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The project had started commercial power generation from July 2000. As per the agreement between the government and the promoter company, 50 percent share ownership of the project was to be given to NEA free of cost 20 years after the start of power generation. However, the report of the Auditor General states that the necessary process has not been completed. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In order to transfer ownership of the project, a separate company owned by both NEA and the promoter company has to be set up. However, the report states that no such company has been established. In addition, the company has to sign a new power purchase agreement with NEA. The report states that such process has not been completed due to which the transfer of ownership was delayed. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The auditor general has also raised questions about the company's share trading. According to the report, the project is expected to generate 350 million kilowatts of electricity per hour. A Norwegian company, the largest shareholder in the company, has already calculated that the profit from the transfer of 50 percent ownership of the company from July 11, 2020 will be Rs 119 million Norwegian kroner. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">A Nepali company owns 16.90 percent shares in Himal Power. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Khimti is the first hydropower project constructed with the investment of private sector. It is also the first project to be handed over to the government by the private sector. Therefore, the issue of transfer of ownership of this project is considered very important. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Himal Power Company has investments from Butwal Power Company Limited, Statcraft SF of Norway and Alstom Power S among others. </span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-23', 'modified' => '2021-08-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13603', 'image' => '20210823010727_20210119023725_1611012723.Clipboard02.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-23 13:06:41', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13856', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Fostering Resilience of Women-Led Businesses Project Kicks Off', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 23: Thulo.Com, an e-commerce market, along with Enterprise for Management, Economic Reform and Gender Equality (EMERGE) is implementing a project ‘Fostering Resilience of Women-Led Businesses and Consumers’ with support from USAID’s Tayar Nepal - Improved Disaster Risk Management Project.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Gill Sans MT","sans-serif"">August 23: Thulo.Com, an e-commerce market, along with Enterprise for Management, Economic Reform and Gender Equality (EMERGE) is implementing a project ‘Fostering Resilience of Women-Led Businesses and Consumers’ with support from USAID’s Tayar Nepal - Improved Disaster Risk Management Project - to support home-based women producers from both formal and informal sector in the wake of Covid-19 pandemic.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Gill Sans MT","sans-serif"">The project aims to provide a platform to home-based women producers and equip them with necessary skills and information to become resilient during disasters beyond COVID-19.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Gill Sans MT","sans-serif"">In this regard, Thulo.Com and EMERGE conducted a virtual inception meeting on 18th August 2021, reads a joint statement issued by the organisers. The participants of the programme included women entrepreneurs, representatives from various ministries, local government, banks, insurance, tech companies, development agencies, private sector organizations, and media.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Gill Sans MT","sans-serif"">Welcoming the participants of the programme, Dr, Mona Shrestha Adhikari, CEO of EMERGE, shed light on the objectives of the project. She mentioned that the main objectives behind this project are to impart skills on Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) for holistic business management and to enhance the economic resilience of women-led businesses. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Gill Sans MT","sans-serif"">The project’s geographical focus is on five provinces, which include 10 districts and 15 municipalities. She also shared that they are collaborating with organizations namely SAARC Business Association of Home-Based Workers (SABAH Nepal), National Indigenous Disabled Women Association Nepal (NIDWAN), Federation of Business and Professional Women Nepal (FBPWN), and Federation of Women with Disability-Nepal (FWDN) along with four municipalities: Birendranagar, Surkhet district; Godavari, Kailali district; Neelakantha, Dhading district; and Tulsipur sub-metropolitan city, Dang district - that are working areas of USAID’s Tayar Nepal.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Gill Sans MT","sans-serif"">In her opening remarks Tammie Harris of Tayar Nepal shared that this project is an extension of last year’s pilot project named “Revitalizing Women’s Businesses Amidst COVID-19 Pandemic”. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Gill Sans MT","sans-serif"">She expressed her belief that this project will equip women entrepreneurs and producers with tools to enhance their business resilience and to assist them to explore more entrepreneurship opportunities in producing the products that will contribute to enhancing the resilience of communities. She also appreciated the in-kind contribution of Thulo and the EMERGE team to this project.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Gill Sans MT","sans-serif"">Durga Prasad Bhusal, under-secretary, Ministry of Industry Commerce and Supplies (MOICS), expressed that this project is perfectly timed to grab the opportunities presented by e-commerce and mitigate the challenges brought by the disasters like COVID-19 pandemic. On behalf of MOICS, Under Secretary Bhusal expressed enthusiasm in supporting this project and beyond to enable MSMEs including women businesses to benefit from e-commerce regulations and plans of the government. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Gill Sans MT","sans-serif"">Surakchya Adhikari, COO of Thulo.Com, and the focal person of the project, shared the activities that will be covered during the project period. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Gill Sans MT","sans-serif"">She highlighted the effort of being as inclusive as possible by including project beneficiaries from formal and informal businesses, both urban and rural areas as well as from marginalized and socially excluded communities such as women with disabilities and women from ethnic groups. She highlighted that the project aims to upskill 120 women entrepreneurs and home based producers among which 40 will get access to online promotion and sales along with developing a dedicated App to disseminate information related to DRRM.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Gill Sans MT","sans-serif"">Ambica Shrestha, president, FBPWN, stressed that many women entrepreneurs are home based and in today’s time digitization of business is essential. </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-23', 'modified' => '2021-08-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13602', 'image' => '20210823123006_Inception Meeting.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-23 12:29:01', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13855', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NEA Prepares to Launch Bright and Clean City Campaign ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 23: Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) is preparing to launch the ‘Bright and Clean City Campaign’ with the objective of illuminating and beautifying the cities across the country.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">August 23: Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) is preparing to launch the ‘Bright and Clean City Campaign’ with the objective of illuminating and beautifying the cities across the country. NEA has initiated the campaign under the government’s Bright Nepal Campaign. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">As a part of the campaign, sophisticated smart lights would be installed in various places including historical and cultural heritage sites and major thoroughfares in the city areas. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif""> Newly appointed Executive Director of NEA Kulman Ghising shared that the campaign would utilize the power that goes to waste during the night time and will help further illuminate the city areas. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Ghising, who played a vital role in reducing power cuts during his previous term as NEA Executive Director, is now focusing on improving the quality of electricity and to increase electricity consumption. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Under this campaign, NEA plans to remove unnecessary and unmanaged electric poles and properly manage the power supply cables that are being laid underground. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to Ghising, the campaign would begin from Kathmandu, Bharatpur and Pokhara in the first phase and gradually expand to other cities in the country. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Earlier, Minister for Energy and Irrigation, Pampha Bhusal, had shared her plan while assuming the office to manage and strengthen the power supply system by maintaining the beauty of the cities. This campaign is being launched in line with the announcement made by the minister. </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-23', 'modified' => '2021-08-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13601', 'image' => '20210823091945_20190101025132_DSC_0021.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-23 09:18:50', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13857', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Second Batch of Vaccines arrives in Nepal from Japan', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 23: An additional 200,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines have arrived in Nepal. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">August 23: An additional 200,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines have arrived in Nepal. According to the Ministry of Health and Population, 208,700 doses out of 1.6 million doses provided by Japan under the Covax facility have arrived in the country on Saturday morning.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Earlier, 900,000 doses of vaccine had arrived in Nepal on August 6 and 7. The vaccine is administered to citizens over the age of 25 as the second dose of Covishield. As AstraZeneca and Covishield are vaccines of the same nature produced in different locations, the ministry is using Covishield as an alternative.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Indian company Serum Institute Pvt. Ltd. is producing Covishield vaccine in collaboration with Oxford University and AstraZeneca. The government of Nepal had started the vaccination campaign with 1 million doses of Covishield vaccine provided by India on January 27 last year. Later, Nepal purchased 2 million vaccines on February 21. So far, India has provided only 1 million doses of vaccines.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The ministry has decided to use AstraZeneca as an alternative to Covishield in the first week of June after it was confirmed that the vaccine would not be provided by India. Chief of the Vaccination Management Division, Jhalak Sharma Gautam said that out of the 1.6 million vaccines provided by Japan, 1.1 million vaccines have already arrived in Nepal and the remaining 500,000 vaccines will arrive in Nepal on Monday. The new vaccine will be given to the ones who received the first dose of Covishield in Provinces 1 and 2.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the ministry, a total of 8,770,664 people have been vaccinated against Covid-19, including 4,935,056 people receiving the first dose and 3,835,608 receiving the second as of Saturday (August 21).</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-23', 'modified' => '2021-08-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13600', 'image' => '20210823010019_20210523010929__117616854_hi066285277.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-23 12:59:36', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13854', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'OAG Report Points out Widespread Anomalies and Irregularities', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 22: The 58th annual report of the Office of the Auditor General (OAG) published by the Auditor General reveals a surge in financial irregularities and anomalies. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">August 22: The 58th annual report of the Office of the Auditor General (OAG) published by the Auditor General reveals a surge in financial irregularities and anomalies. The report states that the government bodies themselves have worked against the Financial Procedure Act and Fiscal Responsibility Act. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The report shows that the transactions have been carried out without fulfilling the required procedures and keeping its records. In the fiscal year 2019/20 alone, audit reports of federal, state, and local government office as well as other organizations and committees have shown arrears of Rs 439 billion. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, the foreign grant which needs to be reimbursed is Rs 9.13 billion and the loan amount is Rs 12.73 billion. The volume of loan acquired by the government along with interest during the review period amounts Rs 2.5 billion. The report shows that the total amount of loan that needs to be settled is Rs 676.41 billion an increase from last year’s amount of Rs 664.44 billion.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><em><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Rs 40 billion arrears at local level</span></span></em></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the report, the local governments alone have arrears of Rs 40 billion. Of it, Rs 5.47 billion has to be recovered, Rs 10.75 billion has been misappropriated, Rs 17.16 billion lacks the required documents and Rs 10.6 million has not been reimbursed, while Rs 7.7 billion advance needs to be returned back. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The total amount of arrears at the local level has reached Rs 103.37 billion. Arrears of the previous fiscal year is Rs 622 billion.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><em><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Haphazard expenses</span></span></em></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The report points out anomalies in the preparation and distribution of the budget. Like in the previous year, a big volume of budget was introduced and huge expenses have been made at the end of the fiscal year along with reckless transfer of money. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Although Rule 33 of the Financial Procedure Rules-2064 mentions that the accounts should be closed before the end of the fiscal year (July 9 of this fiscal year), Rs 210.19 billion has been spent in the month of July alone. Of the total budget expenditure, Rs 1.91 billion alone has been spent in the last week of Asadh (mid-July). So the Auditor General has asked the government to control the payment and expenditure in the last week of Ashadh.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><em><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Procurement of medical goods flouting the law</span></span></em></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The 58th report has pointed out that the government has procured medical items going against the law. It has claimed that it is against the law to enter into an agreement with an individual who has not been assigned responsibility for this purpose. The government had made an agreement with the Omni Group to purchase health products after the second case of COVID-19 was detected in the country. The report of the Auditor General states that a committee was formed without following the provisions specified in the Act. Also, the goods purchased by Omni Group were used without conducting any technical examination. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><em><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Vehicles purchased flouting rules</span></span></em></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the OAG report, the local governments have purchased vehicles illegally. In the Fiscal Year 2019/20, the local level spent Rs 133 billion on vehicle procurement. Although the Ministry of Finance had issued directive preventing the purchase of vehicles for regular use of the office from the budget provided by the government, the local government purchased vehicles flouting the issued directive. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><em><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">MCC and Fast Track irregularities</span></span></em></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The report has revealed the Millennium Challenge Account Nepal under the US-funded Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) grant has misappropriated funds of Rs 200 million on the pretext of consulting services. "By appointing a consultant as a financial agent and agreeing to pay $ 5.05 million to each consultant, so far Rs 20.83 million has been spent," the report states. MCA Nepal has spent the money by appointing a consultant as a financial agent to keep track of the initial phase of financial transactions and recommend payments and financial transactions.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The report shows that after spending a large amount of money, the Nepalese Army canceled 14 contracts related to the Kathmandu-Terai Fast Track terming it to be unnecessary and inappropriate. Cancelling the process and contract after making payment of Rs 3.74 billion is itself an act of financial irregularity, states the report. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><em><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Income Tax not paid</span></span></em></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">It has been found that the banks and financial institutions have not even paid the income tax. According to the report, 24 commercial banks and 13 insurance companies have earned Rs 11.63 billion through FPOs and share auctions. Thirty percent tax applied to these transactions amount to Rs 3.48 billion. However, it seems that the revenue has been waived off. The report states that the tax should be assessed and collected after required investigation.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The report also speaks of the malpractice in the transfer of right shares. In the case of payment made by one person transferring property to another person, the amount equal to the market value of the property has to be verified but the tax has been assessed without verifying the capital gains. The OAG report states tax worth Rs 106.86 million to be received under the Income Tax Act, 2058 should be assessed and collected.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, as per the agreement reached between the banks and financial institutions for merger, the report has decided to assess and collect the tax and interest of Rs 4.47 billion as per the Income Tax Act.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><em><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Big companies evading tax</span></span></em></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The OAG report has found multinational and other large companies to be evading tax. Gorkha Brewery has evaded tax of around Rs 1 billion, Bottlers Nepal which has been producing soft drinks including Coca-Cola, Sprite and Fanta in the country has evaded capital gains tax applicable in transfer of ownership. Similarly, the report shows that Coca-Cola has to pay more than Rs 250 billion tax. Seven airline companies have evaded tax worth Rs 51.98 million applicable in airline tickets.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">On the other hand, OAG report has suggested bringing social apps and sites operating without being registered under the tax net. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><br /> <br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-22', 'modified' => '2021-08-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13599', 'image' => '20210822043921_new-logo1_20210821142644.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-22 16:38:38', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13852', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal Imports Routers Worth Rs 2.16 Billion in Last Fiscal Year', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 22: The data published by the Department of Customs shows that Nepal imported routers worth Rs 2.16 billion in the last fiscal year. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">August 22: The data published by the Department of Customs shows that Nepal imported routers worth Rs 2.16 billion in the last fiscal year. With the increase in the use of internet, the demand for routers has also increased in recent years in Nepal. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">China accounts for about 97 percent of the routers imported to Nepal, while routers are also imported to Nepal from other 20 countries including Taiwan, Latvia, Mexico and Thailand.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Along with the import of routers, the customs revenue has also increased significantly. In the last Fiscal Year 2077/78, the government collected revenue of Rs 400 million from import of routers. With internet service becoming more accessible in Nepal, the demand for routers is likely to increase in the future.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-22', 'modified' => '2021-08-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13598', 'image' => '20210822040147_Linksys-Max-Stream-Mesh-WiFi-5-Router-MR6350.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-22 16:00:51', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = false $xml = falsesimplexml_load_file - [internal], line ?? include - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 133 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
| Currency | Unit |
Buy | Sell |
| U.S. Dollar | 1 | 121.23 | 121.83 |
| European Euro | 1 | 131.65 | 132.31 |
| UK Pound Sterling | 1 | 142.47 | 143.18 |
| Swiss Franc | 1 | 124.29 | 124.90 |
| Australian Dollar | 1 | 71.69 | 72.05 |
| Canadian Dollar | 1 | 83.90 | 84.32 |
| Japanese Yen | 10 | 10.94 | 11.00 |
| Chinese Yuan | 1 | 17.17 | 17.26 |
| Saudi Arabian Riyal | 1 | 32.27 | 32.43 |
| UAE Dirham | 1 | 33.01 | 33.17 |
| Malaysian Ringgit | 1 | 27.36 | 27.50 |
| South Korean Won | 100 | 9.77 | 9.82 |
Update: 2020-03-25 | Source: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB)
| Fine Gold | 1 tola | 77000.00 |
| Tejabi Gold | 1 tola | 76700.00 |
| Silver | 1 tola | 720.00 |
Update : 2020-03-25
Source: Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers' Association
| Petrol | 1 Liter | 106.00 |
| Diesel | 1 Liter | 95.00 |
| Kerosene | 1 Liter | 95.00 |
| LP Gas | 1 Cylinder | 1375.00 |
Update : 2020-03-25
