The government has decided to lock-down up till June 12. Along with this, the stock market will also be closed. There was an attempt to keep the market running since April 12 even in the midst of lock-down. However, investors lost more than Rs 63 billion as the two-day trade failed to pick up speed. The stock market has been closed again since May 22 for the benefit of general investors. In this situation, investors were hoping that the government would bring a program to boost morale. But hope has turned to despair.

Investors are frustrated that next year's government budget does not include new policies and programs for capital market development and expansion. The government has included some issues of capital market in the budget program of the Fiscal Year 2077/78.

The budget includes making the capital market fully technology-friendly within the next year, trading of bonds in the secondary market, preparing the necessary basis for the operation of the barter market, introducing stock dealer companies and restructuring the structure of Nepal Securities Board, Nepal Stock Exchange and CDS and Clearing Limited.

Stakeholders in the sector had demanded from the regulatory body of the capital market to calculate profit tax on the basis of turnover, classify it into long-term and short-term investors, tax accordingly and end double taxation on dividends of companies before the budget comes before the budget. But the budget has given more priority to the implementation of the old than the new.

Radha Pokhrel, president of the Nepal Capital Market Investors Association, said the budget was ambitious, adding that the budget failed to prioritize the stock market, which is considered a mirror of the economy.

Hari Dhakal, chairman of the Share Investors Pressure Group, said that he was saddened that the budget did not bring any program to boost the morale of investors.

Chairman of the Stock Brokers Association, Bharat Ranabhat, said that the budget did not address the demand of the shareholders and the capital market was not a priority.