Nepal, April 17 -- Nepal Development Watch (NEDEW), an independent group of academics and development practitioners based in Nepal, the UK and other countries, has welcomed the government's decision to form a high-level probe commission to investigate the assets of officials who have held high public office since 2006.

In a statement issued on the occasion of the Nepali New Year, the organisation described the move as an important step toward strengthening transparency and accountability. It also congratulated the government for beginning implementation of its recently announced 100-point programme following the formation of the new administration under Prime Minister Balendra Shah on March 27.

NEDEW said the programme covers 14 themati...