KATHMANDU, July 24: Minister for Foreign Affairs, NP Saud has instructed the officials of the Department of Consular Services under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to conduct all works related to the Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) online. He instructed the director general of the Department, Prakashmani Paudel, to make arrangements for all PCC work to be done online within 10 days.
At present, although other works of PCC are done online, it is mandatory for the service recipient himself or their representative to be present to receive the PCC with the seal of the Department of Consular Services intact, bearing the signature of the certifying officer.
Because of this, there is a rush of service-seekers to the Department of Passports (DoP). Foreign Minister Saud has given the instruction to reduce crowding at the DoP and to remove the obligation of the service-seekers to be present for the verification of PPC.
Consular services set to go online
According to the instructions of Minister Saud, the Department of Consular Services will facilitate in conducting all works related to the PPC online, and the obligation for service-recipients to visit the Department at Tripureshwor in Kathmandu in person or send representatives will be removed, as the entire process will be accessible and manageable online.
The Department of Consular Services was established under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in accordance with the decision of the government on May 3, 2013 using the authority given by Section 9 of the Good Governance (Management and Operation) Act, 2064 BS to manage consular services in a simple, convenient, transparent and accountable manner.
The Department carries out works such as protection of the rights and interests of Nepalis abroad, rescue, compensation initiative, consular certification, privileges and immunity provided to foreign delegations and diplomatic officials, recommending for the entry permit of the respective country for officials nominated by the government to travel abroad, etc.
Director General of the Department of Consular Services, Paudel, has said that the work of collecting comments to advance the work online has been done and it will be implemented within two weeks after approval by the minister.
"PCC works were conducted online, but the service-seekers still had to physically visit us after we called them. This will no longer be needed" he stated. "We have a few remaining tasks, and some comments have also been raised. Once we receive the approval from the minister, we will officially announce the changes within the next 10-15 days," said Director General Paudel.
