KATHMANDU: The House of Representatives on Thursday passed the Money Laundering Prevention (Third Amendment) Bill, 2026 by a majority vote.
During the House meeting, Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle tabled a proposal seeking the endorsement of the bill, which was subsequently approved by lawmakers.
Before the final vote, the House discussed and decided on amendments proposed to the bill.
Responding to lawmakers during the deliberations, Minister Wagle said the government is committed to strengthening the Department of Money Laundering Investigation to make it more effective in combating financial crimes.
He also revealed that the government is considering the establishment of a powerful Economic Crime Authority, modeled on the authority exercised by the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA), to tackle a broader range of economic offences.
According to the finance minister, multiple agencies currently investigating the same financial offences increase government costs, place additional burdens on the judicial system, and complicate the recovery of illicit assets. He said the proposed legal amendments are intended to improve institutional efficiency and streamline investigations into economic crimes.
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