Prime Minister Balendra Shah has stated that the government has issued strict directives to prevent the misuse of visit visas and is preparing policy reforms to make foreign employment procedures more efficient for Nepali workers.

Responding to a question raised by lawmaker Khushbu Oli during a session of the House of Representatives, Shah said that the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security is studying the possibility of allowing Nepali citizens who enter foreign countries on visit visas and later secure employment to convert their status into labour visas while remaining abroad.

Under the current system, individuals who obtain job opportunities after traveling on a visit visa are generally required to return to Nepal to complete labour approval and work visa procedures. The proposed reform aims to eliminate unnecessary travel costs, delays, and administrative burdens for workers.

The Prime Minister emphasized that the government is committed to making foreign employment safer, more transparent, and more practical while reducing opportunities for visa misuse.

Addressing another parliamentary question regarding the recently announced 5 percent Value Added Tax (VAT) on electricity consumption exceeding 50 units per month, Shah defended the policy as a necessary step to strengthen Nepal’s power infrastructure.

He explained that Nepal’s existing electricity distribution network, including transformers, substations, and transmission lines, does not yet have the capacity to support a rapid nationwide shift toward fully electric households.

“Moving immediately into a fully electrified era is not practical. If every household starts cooking with electricity, the current capacity of transformers and substations across the country will not be sufficient,” Shah said.

According to the Prime Minister, revenue collected from the VAT will be invested in upgrading transformers, transmission lines, and substations throughout the country. The government expects these investments to improve electricity reliability and support Nepal’s long-term electrification goals.