Minister Kharel launches smart driving license printing, calls it ‘significant’

Banepa (Kavre): Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Jagdish Kharel, on Friday launched the printing of smart driving licenses from the Security Printing Centre.

The Minister launched the printing from the Centre based in Shreekhandapur of Banepa, terming it a significant achievement for self-sufficiency in the printing of smart driving licenses.

Despite numerous legal and technical issues, it is a milestone for Nepal to officially begin the printing of a sensitive document like the driving license within the country, he said, adding, “It is not only about the security of national data, but also about saving millions of rupees from going outside the country.”

The machines had been unused for three years, all gathering dust. The Centre itself looked like ruins, he added.
Secretary at the Ministry and Chair of the Centre, Radhika Aryal, said, “Today marks a special day, and a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”

Centre Executive Director Devraj Dhungana said the Centre is capable of printing not only driving licenses but also citizenship certificates, excise stickers, visa stickers, land ownership certificates, postage stamps, and other sensitive documents.

As per the MoU reached between the Department of Transport Management and the Centre, in the first phase, 1.2 million licenses will be printed within the next six months.

It is said so far around three billion rupees has been invested in the Centre.

With the launch of the printing, service seekers who have long been waiting to obtain smart driving licenses will feel relieved.