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A meeting of the National Assembly (NA) held on Wednesday unanimously endorsed the report of the Draft Committee on the Amendment of National Assembly Regulations-2075 BS.

Committee's President Suresh Kumar Ale Magar presented the proposal seeking consideration of the Amendment Report on National Assembly Regulations-2075 BS in the beginning of the meeting.

In the theoretical discussion held on the proposal, President Ale Magar responded to all the queries raised by the lawmakers.

NA Chairperson Ganesh Prasad Timilsina apprised the Committee members that those seeking an amendment on the report could register their amendment within 72 hours.

Similarly, the meeting unanimously endorsed Fiscal Procedures and Financial Accountability (First Amendment) Ordinance-2080 BS.

Likewise, Legislative Management Committee President Jayanti Devi Rai presented the report of the Committee on Sahid Dasaratha Chand Health Science University-Bill-2080 BS.

Meanwhile, the NA meeting passed the condolence motion on the demise of former minister and constituent assembly member Keshav Kumar Budhathoki.

The condolence motion was presented by the NA Chairperson which the meeting endorsed unanimously. Parliamentarians observed a minute of silence and prayed for the eternal peace of departed Budhathoki.

Budhathoki passed away on February 5 while undergoing treatment. He was 80.

NA is convening again at 1: 01 pm on February 11.

A meeting of the Parliament held on Wednesday unanimously approved the bill on Anti-Money Laundering.

Earlier in the meeting, Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Dhanraj Gurung, had presented the proposal seeking the endorsement of the bill to amend Acts and laws relating to the prevention of money laundering and promotion of business environment.

The endorsement has opened the way for amendment in a host of laws such as Export-Import (Control) Act-2013 BS, Ship Registration Act-2027 BS, Revenue Act-2034 BS, Tourism Act-2035 BS, Building Act-2055 BS, Insolvency Act-2063 BS, Securities Act-2063 BS, Nepal Rastra Bank Act-2058 BS, Human Trafficking and Transportation (Control) Act-2064 BS.

Criminal Assets and Instruments (Seizure, Control and Confiscation) Act-2070 BS, Money Laundering Prevention Act-2064 BS, Organized Crime Prevention Act-2070 BS, Insurance Act-2079 BS, Cooperatives Act-2074 BS, Foreign Investment and Technology Handover Act-2075 BS, Electricity Regulation Commission Act-2074 BS, Mutual Legal Assistance Act-2070 BS will also undergo amendment with today's endorsement.

The National Civil (Code) Act-2074 BS and the National Criminal Procedure (Code) Act-2074 BS have been amended through the bill.

The Parliament meeting will be held again at 11 am on February 18 .

Speaker Devraj Ghimire said that lawmakers could hold a live question and answer session with Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal on that day.

Minister for Foreign Affairs, Narayan Prakash Saud, will be leaving for Perth, Australia this evening to attend the 7th Indian Ocean Conference being jointly organized by the Government of Australia and India Foundation on February 9-10.

The Minister is scheduled to address the Conference being held on the theme of ‘Towards a Stable and Sustainable Indian Ocean,’ on 10 February, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

While in Perth, Minister Saud will hold a bilateral meeting with Senator Penny Wong, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Australia. In the margins of the Conference, the minister is also scheduled to hold meetings with participating heads of delegation from friendly countries.

He will visit Wellington, New Zealand for a bilateral meeting with Winston Peters, Minister of Foreign Affairs of New Zealand on February 14. The meeting will be preceded by the Second Foreign Ministry Consultation Meeting between the senior officials of the Ministries.

The Minister will be accompanied by his spouse Jyotshna Adhikari Saud and officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Ambassador of Nepal to Australia, Kailash Raj Pokharel, will also join the Nepali delegation.

He will return to Kathmandu on February 15.

The National Concerns and Coordination Committee of the National Assembly has instructed the government to increase coordination between the three levels of government and among the ministries for effective implementation of federalism in the country.

The directive was issued based on a study report prepared by the Committee on the basis of discussion with the relevant agencies and experts of the seven provinces. The report was reviewed in Wednesday's meeting of the committee.

Chairperson of the committee, Dil Kumari Rawal Thapa (Parbati), said that recommendations and instructions have been given to the government to speed up the development of the laws and structures necessary to outline the rights and jurisdiction between the federal, provincial and local level governments. This should be done on the basis of mutual coordination.

Rawal said that the study found that inter-ministerial coordination of the government is not effective. Furthermore, the national coordination council, provincial coordination council, thematic committees under the federal ministry of federal affairs and general administration are also not functioning effectively.

The committee has directed the federal government to prioritize plans after identifying the needs of the country, to formulate and monitor plans and budgets based on clear criteria, and to implement fiscal federalism effectively.