Nepal, Aug. 18 -- The private sector has long served as the primary engine of the Nepali economy, generating approximately 86 percent of jobs and contributing roughly 81.55 percent to the national output. Yet, for decades, commercial enterprises have borne the brunt of broader political instability and social grievances, routinely finding themselves the first targets of arson, extortion and looting. Against this backdrop, the Government of Nepal's recent decision to revive the Industrial Security Force (ISF) under the newly launched Private Investment Protection and Promotion Strategy is a welcome move.

Albeit late, the strategy represents the Balen Shah administration's pragmatic shift towards acknowledging that capital accumulation can...