Kathmandu: The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) is poised to enforce a ban on share trading activities within Singha Durbar, the seat of Nepal’s government, following multiple complaints about misuse of office time.
The CIAA has decided to shut down the Trade Management System (TMS) used for share trading within the premises, responding to concerns that government employees have been engaging in stock market activities during office hours. The ban will be implemented through a directive issued via the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers. An official announcement regarding this action is expected to be made on Sunday.
The complaints allege that employees have been neglecting their official responsibilities to monitor stock prices and engage in trading, particularly with the recent surge in the share market. Reports indicate that employees have been using their mobile phones, laptops, and computers to keep track of the Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) and TMS, leading to disruptions in their work.
The CIAA’s decision to address this issue comes in response to observations that employees have not been fulfilling their duties, such as commenting on files or providing necessary opinions and suggestions. The authority aims to mitigate this problem by restricting access to share trading systems during work hours.
Sources close to the CIAA suggest that the new directive will serve as a deterrent, encouraging employees to focus on their official tasks rather than engaging in share trading activities.