KATHMANDU: The Department of Passport under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has become the first government agency to be accredited with the ISO standards.

The International Organization for Standarization has accredited the Department with the ISO 9001: 2015 certificate for being able to maintain international standards in the preparation, certification and distribution of passports.

Unveiling the 'ISO 9001:2015' certificate at a programme held at the Department on Sunday, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Krishna Bahadur Mahara said it was a matter of pride that the Department was the first government agency to be honoured with the ISO certification.

Stating that the certification was a result of the dedication, efficiency and awareness of quality service of the department employees, DPM Mahara directed the employees to work with a goal to maintain the achievement, and attain higher goals. "Many challenges are yet to be addressed to realise the government's plan of issuing e-passports," he said.

Foreign Secretary Shanker Das Bairagi said the accreditation was a result of increased transparency, professionalism and effectiveness, and expressed the hope that the feat would inspire other government agencies.

Director General of the National Bureau of Standards and Metrology Biswababu Pudasaini and Director General Ramkaji Khadka lauded the Department for the achievement, while calling for continued action to maintain it.