The current government cannot remain silent on the passport issue, saying it is the result of the previous government's weaknesses. Therefore, the government must find a way to resolve the problem in a prudent manner.
What you should know
Along with democracy and democratization, an important facility that Nepalis have received is a passport. This means that even citizens without political and social access have been able to easily travel abroad for employment and study.
That is why the Nepali diaspora has become influential all over the world today. If we analyze it from this angle, the passport is also a symbol of the openness of the Nepalis. It is also a means of interacting with the world. Nowadays, not only the passport facility, but also the need of the citizens has become a necessity. However, there are occasional problems in the distribution of passports in Nepal. At present, the government itself has cut down on the distribution as the storage of passports is running out. Since the demand for passports has not been analyzed and timely storage has not been ensured, citizens have not been able to avail the facility that they should have paid a high fee to the state. The government should take the situation seriously and find a solution to the problem immediately, taking the negative impact of the problem on the citizens and the state when there is a problem in the distribution of passports seriously.
The Passport Department now has 173,000 passports left. According to the agreement made by the department with the new supplier in last Shrawan for the purchase of passports, the supply will be made only from 11 Falgun. The department has taken the option of restricting the distribution to balance the passports in storage and the days of supply. Earlier, 5-6 thousand passports were being distributed daily. Since the demand for passports is only one to one and a half months, the department has set a quota of distributing one thousand passports per day from Tuesday. The number of passports issued by district administrations, area administrations and foreign missions has also been reduced. As a result, less than two thousand copies have been distributed from Tuesday. Department officials have requested that passport applications be submitted only in cases of emergency until further notice.
The government started distributing electronic passports in Mangsir 2079. Since then, the department has issued 5.1 million copies of electronic passports. Until now, French company IDEMIA had supplied the passports. The department had called for international bidding on 13 Mangsir last year for the purchase of 6.4 million copies of electronic passport booklets for the next 5 years. Separate bids were opened for the passport system including passport pre-registration, registration, data management and distribution as 'Package 1' and the passport booklet including personalization, quality control and packing as 'Package 2'. Accordingly, the German company Muebbauer has been selected for 'Package 1' and the German Veridos for 'Package 2'. Accordingly, passports will be supplied from Falgun. But the shortage has arisen even before the new supply.
Nepalis generally make passports whenever they are needed. Therefore, many may face difficulties when there is an interruption in the distribution of passports. Since a passport is a permit issued by the state for traveling abroad, it may hinder emergency or planned travel such as employment, study, travel, treatment, and family meetings. If the citizens do not receive the facilities they should get from the state even after paying the fee, dissatisfaction with the state, its organs, and the system itself may increase. The state loses revenue and also weakens the diplomatic image of the country. If passports cannot be issued for a long time, the number of people going for foreign employment will automatically decrease, which will ultimately affect the receipt of remittances. As the shortage of passports increases, the pressure to supply them at any cost may lead to a suicidal situation, such as the government having to pay a higher fee than the regular one and compromising on quality. In such a situation, the government's intentions may be questioned, the processes may become controversial, and those involved in the decision may have to bear the blame for a long time.
With the increasing access of Nepalis to foreign countries, passports have become a regular necessity. Regular distribution can only be achieved when a balance can be struck between storage and supply cycles. Therefore, it is the government's responsibility to maintain its supply uninterrupted. It is also the government's responsibility to call for bids as needed, adopt a transparent process, obtain quality passports at low prices, and distribute them regularly and easily. Although the storage is decreasing, the previous government did not take it seriously. Therefore, even though the shortage is seen now, it is clear that it is the result of the previous government's irresponsible working style. Even though the state is an inseparable institution, if the leadership at one time becomes irresponsible and unresponsive, the current shortage of passports also sends a message that the people will suffer the consequences in the future. Therefore, citizens should regularly monitor the state to make it accountable.
The current government cannot remain silent on the passport problem, saying that it is the result of the previous government's weaknesses. Therefore, the government should find a way to solve the problem in a prudent manner. Prime Minister Sushila Karki, who is also in charge of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, last Thursday requested German Ambassador Udo Volz to facilitate the German company that won the tender to print passports. According to the results of the meeting, it would be fruitful if the passports were supplied before the scheduled date of supply. Second, a request can also be made to the French company IDEMIA, which has been providing passports before. Diplomatic initiatives can also be taken for this. The government should take the initiative to provide passports through a transparent process. The most important issue is that the security printing center established by the government with the aim of printing sensitive documents such as passports, banknotes, smart licenses, postal stamps, national identity cards, and excise stickers in Nepal should be operated. This path will be long-term and safe.
