KATHMANDU: In a major blow to the government, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) directed it to cancel the entire process and follow the Public Procurement Process as per the existing rules and acts on the Machine Readable Passports (MRP) on Friday.

After an intensive discussion, the meeting which was held at the PAC office in Singha Durbar termed the government decision on the MRPs as “unfortunate”. It stated that the MRPs is a business deal.

The PAC said that the MPR purchase and printing processes should abide by the existing law and Public Procurement Act on a competitive basis and ordered the government to ensure the inalienable rights of the citizens to get the passports.

“MRPs printing is a business activity and the government has breached the existing laws and indulged in abuse of authority in the entire MRPs processes during the tender bidding and cancellation. It is unfortunate that the government ignored and defied PAC directives in the MRP case” PAC said.

“The government should investigate the leadership of Ministry of Foreign Affairs and officials who are responsible in the delay in the MRPs process for five years” PAC stated.

Earlier, the government had decided to award the printing work of the MRPs to India. However, the Apex Court issued a stay order on Wednesday for five days until its final decision on Monday.

The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), a UN bodies had directed the government to met the deadline of April 1st for the MRPs ten years ago.

The Sher Bahadur Deuba-led government had earlier begun the preliminary arrangements for the MRPs in 2005 but was unable to take it forward due to its untimely collapse.