Security Printing Centre resumes services

Banepa (Kavrepalanchok), Nov 7: The government has initiated the printing of driving licenses using its own printing machine.

The Security Printing Centre, which operates under the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, has begun this printing process today. Communications and Information Technology Minister Jagadish Kharel officially launched the printing from the machine situated at the centre in Banepa, Kavre.

Minister Kharel remarked that despite facing legal challenges and various obstacles, the printing of licenses has commenced following the installing of necessary equipment.

He noted, “For years, the machines at the Security Printing Centre had remained unused. The machines and their components were covered in dust. The facility had taken on a dilapidated appearance. We have now started printing, with dust swirling around.”

He mentioned that numerous tasks, including the printing of national identity cards, passports, land registration certificates, various stickers, and postage stamps, can be done using the machines at the centre. According to him, there is a requirement to print 2.8 million driving licenses.

The printing of licenses, passports, national identity cards, and similar documents has traditionally been outsourced to foreign firms. Minister Kharel explained that although the necessary infrastructure and resources were available, printing had not been feasible until now, but with recent policy reforms, the printing process has finally begun.

Devraj Dhungana, the Executive Director of the Security Printing Centre, reported that printing has commenced after addressing various legal issues and technical challenges. In the initial phase, work has started today in accordance with the agreement to print 1.2 million items.

Initially, the Centre announced that 500 copies would be printed each day, with plans to gradually increase this number.

According to Executive Director Dhungana, starting today, citizenship certificates, revenue stamps, postage stamps, land ownership certificates, and visa stickers can also be printed. To date, approximately NPR three billion has been spent to launch the services. —