Intensify market monitoring during festivals: Fin Min

KATHMANDU, AUG 25 - Finance Minister Shankar Prasad Koirala has directed the commerce department to strengthen its presence in the markets across the nation to curb possible foul play in view of the upcoming festive season.

Koirala, who is also the minister for commerce, ordered the concerned stakeholders to promulgate the citizen declaration by August 31 and strive to safeguard the rights of consumers.

Noting the high expectations of general public on the government agency responsible for monitoring the markets, Minister Koirala urged the department to remain on high alert to thwart dishonesty that could take place in the markets in the name of festival.  He said underscored the need to play a role of facilitator by the government agencies as the government has adopted a free market policy.

"I am ready to take the responsibility to garner necessary support for making your work effective. Let the market monitoring be carried out in such a way that everyone can feel it. The environment of office should be friendly to service seekers," said Minister Koirala. He urged the department to make arrangements of waiting room, toilet and drinking waters for the serve-seekers. "Please don't exclude the pro-consumer organizations while heading for any personal or institutional monitoring," he added.

Commerce and Supply Secretary Janardan Nepal directed the concerned officials to intensify the monitoring process considering the balance of import and export. He drew the attention of officials towards the result-oriented work.

Director General of Commerce Department, Narayan Bidari, complained that the department's sole effort to monitor the market would not be adequate to control the market.

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