Hello and Namaste from Nepal!
We’re thrilled to bring you the second edition of Nepali Dias Express, your trusted weekly digest of what’s happening back home, why it matters, and how it connects to Nepalis living around the world.

🇳🇵 Nepal Highlights

1. The Land Rule That Lasted Less Than a Week

A rule came in to make land transactions more transparent. Bank statements required, no more backdoor cash deals. For diaspora investors, it was a breath of fresh air.

But in just six days, it was gone.

Real estate power players pushed back hard. The rule got diluted, then shelved. No more mandatory banking. No more KYC. And just like that, the hope of a clean, fair land market vanished.

Today, we unpack what happened, and why it’s a big loss for anyone trying to invest in Nepal the right way.

Scroll down for the full deep dive!

2. Governor’s Property Declared, And It’s Not What You’d Expect

Nepal Rastra Bank Governor Dr. Biswo Nath Poudel just dropped his property declaration, and let’s just say it’s a fascinating read.

No villas abroad. No luxury cars. Just over Rs. 17.5 crore in declared wealth, and almost all of it in shares of banks and hydropower companies. The land? Mostly in his wife’s name. And the strategy? Pretty Impressive.

He may not live loud, but his portfolio speaks volumes. Quietly, he’s become one of Nepal’s wealthiest and most well-positioned public figures.

3. Govt Backs Off Hydropower Clause: Major Win for the Sector

If you read our previous edition, you’ll remember that controversial budget clause that threatened to pull the plug on over 350 hydropower projects. It would’ve removed NEA’s “take-or-pay” guarantee, a critical safety net for power producers.

Well, after massive backlash from developers and political pressure from all sides, the government has walked it back.

Now, PPAs will still be allowed, as long as there’s a clear use case for domestic consumption or export. It’s still subject to NEA’s financial evaluation, but the worst-case scenario? Avoided.

Hydropower just dodged a bullet.

4. Nepal’s Skies Could Soon Be Wide Open

Nepal’s draft civil aviation policy just dropped, and it’s shooting for the stars.

The government wants to allow up to 90% foreign investment in international airlines operating here, and even more in aviation manufacturing and support services.

It also promises better airports (finally), stronger safety standards, and better air connectivity beyond just Kathmandu.

It’s still in the consultation phase, but if this goes through, Nepal’s aviation sector could finally take off in a big way

🌏 Global Affairs

1. Nepali Founders Raise $31M: Niural Goes Big

Big moment for the diaspora: Niural, the AI-powered global payroll startup founded by Nami Baral and Nabin Banskota, just raised a whopping $31 million.

Their platform helps companies hire, pay, and manage workers across 150+ countries — saving tons of time on compliance and payroll headaches.

This is one of the biggest international raises by Nepali founders — and a proud moment for the global community.

More on Niural’s journey

2. China–US Trade Truce Could Ease Global Tech Tensions

After months of friction, China and the US have agreed to a new trade framework, and it’s a big deal for tech and green energy sectors.

China will start reviewing export requests for sensitive items, while the US plans to lift some key tech restrictions. The announcement came right after a high-level meeting in London and was later confirmed by President Trump.

What this means: The pressure may ease on global supply chains, especially for rare earths used in electronics, EVs, and clean energy where China’s dominance has made many countries nervous.

Let’s see if this truce holds.

3. Trump Pauses a War? (Yes, Really.)

After 12 chaotic days of missiles, nuclear threats, and global panic, Israel and Iran are now (sort of) under a ceasefire.

And guess who’s claiming credit?

Donald Trump.

Frustrated with both sides, he stepped in, dropped a few bunker-busters, made a couple of phone calls, and boom: ceasefire (for now).

Israel says they’ve ruined Iran’s nuclear program. Iran says, “Nah, still standing.”
U.S. intel? Says the nukes are delayed by just a few months — not destroyed.

But for now, war is on pause. Oil is flowing. Tensions have dipped.

So Nobel Peace Prize for Trump? Or just a very large participation medal?

🔍Deep Dive of the Week

The Land Rule That Lasted Less Than a Week

And This May Cost You Your Dream of Owning a House in Kathmandu

If you’re living abroad, there’s a good chance you’ve dreamed of buying a house back home.

Maybe it’s a plot in Kathmandu. Maybe it’s land in your hometown. A small place to retire. A gift for your parents. Something to hold on to, no matter where life takes you.

And maybe you’ve even saved for it.
You work long hours. You send money back. You’ve done everything right.

But when it comes time to invest in property in Nepal, suddenly… it feels like you don’t belong.

It’s not that you don’t have the money.
It’s that the system is rigged for people with black money.

Cash is still the king. Deals happen behind closed doors. Properties are deliberately undervalued on paper to avoid taxes. You’re expected to bring just a portion in legal bank transfers. And the rest? In cash. Quietly.

Unless you know someone, or you’re okay “playing the game,” you're out.

And that’s the heartbreaking part: Even with a clean income from Australia or the Gulf, you’re competing against briefcases of unaccounted cash from Kathmandu.

And when the government finally tried to fix it; by requiring all land deals over Rs. 10 lakh to go through banks, it gave people hope.

A fair system. A transparent process. One that rewarded clean intent instead of hidden connections.

But the rule barely lasted six days.

Because it threatened the people who benefit from keeping things in the shadows.

Let’s unpack what really went down.

Why the Government Introduced the Rule in the First Place

For decades, land deals in Nepal have mostly been about cash. No bank transfers, no receipts, no real paper trail. That’s exactly why real estate became the go-to method for hiding black money.

Let’s say someone makes money through corruption, smuggling, tax evasion, or even crime. They take that cash, buy land, and later sell it to get back clean, legal-looking money. Just like that, black becomes white.

And while all this is happening, regular buyers; people who work hard, take loans, and follow the rules, find themselves priced out of the market. Because when people with illegal money start throwing cash into real estate, prices shoot up, and the whole market gets distorted.

To fix this, the government decided it was time to act. They introduced new provisions under Nepal’s Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing Regulation, 2082. The message was clear.

The basics were simple:

• If a land deal was over Rs. 10 lakh, payment must go through a bank
  

• No registration without banking proof
  

• KYC forms for both buyer and seller
  

• Payment must match your bank statement

It was a huge shift. And it wasn’t just about controlling prices or curbing black money. It was also Nepal trying to prove something to the world.

The Bigger Pressure: FATF and the Grey List

See, Nepal is on what’s called the FATF grey list. FATF stands for the Financial Action Task Force, a global watchdog that monitors how countries handle money laundering and terrorist financing.

Being on the grey list means Nepal is seen as risky. It’s harder to attract investment, slower to process international payments, and makes the entire financial system look less credible.

To get off that list, Nepal had promised serious reforms. And real estate was one of the biggest problem areas.

This rule was part of the solution. If you clean up how money moves through land deals, you can control illegal funds, improve tax collection, and build international trust.

But what sounded good on paper didn’t last long in practice.

The Pushback Comes In

Within days of the rule being implemented, real estate businesses started pushing back.

Some said it was confusing. Others said it was too sudden. Land offices started facing delays. Lawyers and brokers were bombarded with questions. A lot of buyers got stuck because they had already paid in cash before the rule came out and had no bank proof to show for it.

But beneath all that noise was a much deeper reason.

Real estate in Nepal is not just business. It’s politics, too.

Many powerful figures (politicians, ex-bureaucrats, high-profile contractors) have serious money tied up in land. Some of it is clean. A lot of it isn’t.

This new rule threatened that comfort. It created a paper trail. It made it harder to move money in and out quietly. And it would have forced a lot of people to explain where their money came from.

That was never going to sit well.

Six Days Later, It All Got Rolled Back

Just six days after the new rule was circulated to land offices across the country, the Prime Minister’s Office got involved.

And suddenly, everything changed.

The rule was “revised” and key parts were dropped. You no longer needed to submit a bank statement. KYC was no longer mandatory. There was no requirement to show banking proof for advance payments either. Even the requirement to pay registration fees and taxes directly from your bank account was removed.

In short, all the important bits that would have made land deals transparent, were gone.

And just like that, the boldest reform in Nepal’s land sector in years vanished without a fight.

So What’s the Real Problem?

It wasn’t that the rule was technically flawed. Yes, there were rollout issues. Yes, there was confusion.

But at the heart of it, this was a classic case of powerful interests protecting their turf.

The land market in Nepal is deeply informal. But more than that, it's heavily shielded by people in power. Cash deals are prominent for a reason; they’re convenient for those who don’t want questions asked.

So, this rule was never going to survive unless the government was willing to stand its ground. And clearly, it wasn’t.

Why It Matters to the Diaspora

If you live abroad, you probably know the feeling.

You’ve built a life overseas. You’ve earned legally, sent money home faithfully, and maybe even dreamed of investing back.

All you ask for is a process that’s fair. A deal that doesn’t involve shady cash payments or needing “someone on the inside.”

This rule could’ve made that possible.

It could’ve rewarded clean money over black. It could’ve helped stabilize prices. It could’ve made buying land in Nepal feel like a right, not a favor.

Instead, it was taken down in less than a week.

And maybe that’s what hurts most.

Not that it failed. But how quickly it crumbled, as if honesty was the real threat.

Because no matter how much you love Nepal, no matter how much you send home, some doors still open faster for cash than for clean intent.

What Happens Now?

Officials say the rule was only paused, not cancelled. They say it will be reintroduced later in a more "simplified" form. Maybe through a new directive. Maybe tucked into another regulation.

But for now, everything is back to the way it was. Cash is king again.

And while Nepal remains on the FATF grey list, the window for real reform is closing fast.

Because every day the system protects black money, is a day honest people get pushed further out.

From the Diaspora

Celebrating Nepalis Making an Impact Abroad

Every week, we’ll spotlight a Nepali doing something meaningful beyond our borders, whether it’s building a startup, launching a project, leading a cause, or just quietly making a difference.

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That’s a wrap for this week. THANK YOU 🙏 for being part of this edition.

If anything here made you think, smile, or raise an eyebrow, consider hitting share. Let’s grow this community of curious, engaged, and globally rooted Nepalis.

And how about we share stories more often? With so much to share, one week gap seems like a long time and we miss you! So, shall we share some stories more often? May be twice or thrice a week? Do let us know.

Until next week,
Stay grounded. Stay global.
— Team Nepali Dias