KATHMANDU: Nepal’s apparent inability to meet the deadline on machine readable passports speaks volumes about how our bureaucracy functions.

Nepal had committed to International Civil Aviation Organisation three years ago that it would introduce MRP by April 1. But the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is yet to begin the bidding process for the multi million-dollar project.

MoFA had called a bid to introduce MRP a few months ago but cancelled it recently, citing technical reasons. Nepal is going to miss the deadline only because the bureaucracy remained indifferent and did no groundwork to introduce MRP.

The Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation had written a letter to MoFA nearly two years ago to do the necessary groundwork for the same. But MoFA did not act on time.

Under the pressure of deadline, MoFA did start the bidding process but had to cancel it, citing technical reasons. Officials at MoFA said they were doing the necessary legwork to invite fresh bid. However, it is impossible to meet the deadline, which is two months away.

Sources at MoFA claimed that the bidding process was cancelled, as there were serious differences between Minister for Foreign Affairs Sujata Koirala and Foreign Secretary Madan Kumar Bhattarai.

MoFA is yet to work out the infrastructure required and adequate workers that are necessary for the purpose. Though MoFA has begun constructing a building for the purpose, there is no sign of technical staff.

Durga Bhattarai, spokesperson for MoFA, said the ministry was exploring possible alternatives to MRP to mitigate the woes of Nepalis traveling abroad. It is learnt that

MoFA is preparing to write a letter to ICAO requesting it to accept the existing hand written passport for some more years. Failure to meet the deadline means the existing passport would lose credibility at the international arena.

Mainly, the failure to introduce the MRP will adversely affect Nepali workers seeking foreign employment and students going abroad for studies. Every year 225,000 Nepalis go abroad for employment.

MoFA officials claim that after April 1, persons carrying handwritten Nepali passports will have to face many difficulties and these passports are unlikely to be accepted. Majority of the countries will switch to electronic passports after April 1.

Nepal is the only country in the South Asia that will miss MRP deadline, other countries have already completed the process and are all set to issue MRP. Some African countries will also miss the deadline.

MoFA officials say it was not only an issue of meeting the deadline but also involves national prestige. Failure to meet the deadline will convey a negative message about Nepal to the outer world.

MRP is a travel document in which data on the identity

page is encoded in optical character recognition format. The MRP replaces typed or handwritten personal information, which may easily be altered, with a standarised representation for the holder’s name, date of birth and other details, including arithmetically derived security check digits.

Several countries adopted MRP documents in 1980s. Between 2003 and 2005, the United States introduced regulations that made MRP mandatory for those entering the US under the visa waiver programme. Nearly 50 countries are now using e-passports and more than 100 million e-passports are currently in circulation.