Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has directed the finance ministry to suspend the process of licensing a new stock exchange.
Dahal took the decision following allegations of irregularities in the licensing process. The issue has been raised by the lawmakers in the House of Representatives, while a case has also been lodged against the licensing process at the Patan High Court.
Dahal called Minister for Finance Dr Prakash Sharan Mahat and Chief Secretary Shankar Das Bairagi at his office on Friday and asked them to suspend the licensing process.
Three firms – Himalayan Stock Exchange, National Stock Exchange of Nepal and Annapurna Stock Exchange Ltd – have submitted applications to operate stock exchange in Nepal, responding to an Expression of Interest notice of the Securities Board of Nepal (Sebon).
Likewise, Multi Derivative Exchange Ltd, Multi Assets and Derivative Exchange Ltd, Himalayan Commodities and Derivative Exchange and Nepal Multi Commodities Exchange Ltd have submitted applications to operate commodity exchange markets.
