Finance Minister Khanal urges collective effort to remove Nepal from FATF Grey List within a year

Kathmandu: Finance Minister Rameshore Prasad Khanal has urged all sectors to work together to remove Nepal from the FATF ‘Grey List’ within a year.

Speaking on National Anti-Money Laundering Day, he said reforms aim to make institutions transparent, strengthen governance, and boost investor confidence without creating extra financial burdens.

Minister Khanal highlighted progress made over the past year and stressed completing all remaining reforms by the end of 2026. He emphasized effective investigation, prosecution, and asset seizure in money laundering cases.

Since January 15, all commercial transactions above Rs. 500,000 must be conducted through banks to ensure transparency, and the Finance Minister has confirmed that this limit will not be raised.

Law Minister Anil Kumar Sinha and Attorney General Savita Bhandari called for strict legal, policy, and institutional reforms. Nepal Rastra Bank Deputy Governor Bam Bahadur Mishra warned that staying on the grey list could restrict international financial transactions.

Director General Gajendra Kumar Thakur stressed coordinated action across agencies, risk-based regulation, and cybercrime control.