The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the legislature parliament has directed the government to mobilise the arrears immediately from the casinos that have not paid to the government.

The PAC meeting held at Singha Durbar on Wednesday to discuss the issues regarding the royalty and fines slapped to the casinos issued such direction. The PAC has suspected irregularities in the fine recovery process.

The PAC has called upon Finance Minister Barsha Man Pun and Tourism and Civil Aviation Minister Lokendra Bista Magar seeking justification on the immobilisation of such arrears to be recovered from the casinos.

The PAC has also directed the government to implement the earlier directives issued on December 29, 2010. The PAC had directed to stop the illegal activities that are operated in the casinos along with the formulation of regulation and guidelines.

On the occasion, FM Pun clarified that fines slapped to the casinos have lacked as some casino owners have trying to evade royalty and fine.

Minister Pun also said that the government is preparing to revoke the license of casinos that are hesitating to deposit the royalty to the government. nepalnews.com