KATHMANDU: The Public Accounts Committee of the parliament today directed Ministry of Foreign Affairs to submit all the documents within seven days regarding the progress it has made so far to introduce machine readable passports in the country.

PAC also summoned Foreign Minister Sujata Koirala, Foreign Secretary Dr Madan Kumar Bhattarai and Chief of Protocol Division Mohan Krishna Shrestha in this regard.

"After a detailed study of all the documents since 2005, we'll direct MoFA on ways to introduce MRP," PAC Chairman Ram Krishna Yadav said. PAC also asked MoFA to initiate consultations with the neighbouring countries about the supply and printing of MRP. Koirala said," Indian envoy to Nepal has written a letter to MoFA, stating that Indian state-owned Security Printing and Minting Corporation India can print MRP. "

PAC members criticised Koirala and MoFA for cancelling the bidding process.

Committee member Dr Prakash Chandra Lohani said the whole process was mired in controversy.

DPM Koirala assured the committee members that government would introduce the MRP by the deadline set by International Civil Aviation Organisation.

Besides India, France, Malaysia and Sri Lanka have approached MoFA with plans to meet ICAO deadline. However, sources claimed MoFA was most likely to request India to supply MRP.