KATHMANDU, July 23: Following the repeated media reports about unauthorized individuals using government vehicles, the National Vigilance Center (NVC) has been instructed to conduct regular monitoring on the issue, prepare a report, and submit it to the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers (OPMCM).
A few weeks ago, it was reported that a government vehicle—previously declared missing by the Ministry of Labor, Employment and Social Security—was found being used by Mahanta Thakur, Chairperson of the Loktantrik Samajwadi Party (LSP). This prompted them to take an interest in the matter.
Following that incident, the OPMCM directed all ministries to immediately send details of government vehicle users. A meeting chaired by the Chief Secretary on Monday instructed the NVC to regularly monitor and submit a report on not only the misuse of government vehicles but also whether machines and equipment purchased by public bodies are being properly utilized.
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The meeting also directed the remaining ministries to immediately send details of the vehicles and users from ministries, commissions, secretariats, departments, boards, corporations, authorities, and committees to the OPMCM. If any official or employee is found to be using a government vehicle in violation of the prevailing standards, the vehicle must be returned immediately.
Additionally, the meeting instructed all ministries to ensure that details of all vehicles in their possession are mandatorily recorded in the PAMS (Property Accounting and Management System).
From now on, government employees have also been instructed not to leave their workplace except for urgent duties and not to take leave. The decision reads: “Considering potential disasters that may arise due to the monsoon, employees working at the federal, provincial, and local levels must remain at their workplaces and avoid taking leave unless necessary. District office heads must not take leave without coordinating with the Chief District Officer. Federal ministries must not invite provincial staff to physical meetings or seminars unless necessary.”
To prevent and control dengue outbreaks, the meeting decided that all federal ministries, agencies, provincial governments, and local government offices must launch sanitation and awareness campaigns every Friday from 9:30 AM throughout the months of Shrawan, Bhadra, and Ashwin (mid-July to mid-October) to identify and destroy mosquito breeding sites and larvae.
The meeting also decided that the performance agreements and milestone progress reports for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2024/25 must be submitted in the online system by July 23. Likewise, the performance agreements with indicators for the FY 2025/26 must be finalized by August 10.
The meeting further reiterated the federal government’s commitment to preparing 120 bills in the current FY and instructed relevant ministries to coordinate with the Ministry of Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs to begin drafting the bills immediately.
From now on, technical staff from the concerned agencies must be mandatorily involved when developing new software, and related agencies must request the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology or the Department of Information Technology to conduct system and security audits of the software.
Lastly, the meeting instructed relevant ministries/agencies, security bodies, and non-governmental and community organizations to make necessary preparations for effective monsoon disaster management—including search, rescue, and relief operations—in coordination with the Ministry of Home Affairs and the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority. The Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport has been directed to ensure the immediate removal of obstacles along lifeline roads.