BANEPA: The government has started printing driving licenses using its own printing machines.

The Security Printing Center under the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology (MoCIT) began the printing process today.

Minister for Communication and Information Technology Jagadish Kharel inaugurated the printing at the center in Banepa, Kavre.

He stated that despite legal complexities and various difficulties, essential arrangements were made to start the license printing.

He said, “For years, the machines under the Security Printing Center were left unused. The machines and spare parts were all covered in dust. The place itself was almost in ruins. We have now started printing, dusting off the machines.”

According to Minister Kharel, the center’s machines can also produce national identity cards, passports, land ownership certificates, various stickers, and postal stamps.

He added, “We need to print 2.8 million driving licenses.”

Previously, printing of licenses, passports, and national identity cards was always outsourced to foreign companies.

Minister Kharel said that despite having the infrastructure and resources, printing was not possible until policy reforms were made to allow the process.

Devraj Dhungana, Executive Director of the Security Printing Center, confirmed that various legal and technical issues were resolved to start printing.

In the first phase, printing has begun in accordance with a contract for 1.2 million items.

Initially, 500 copies will be printed daily, with plans to increase the volume over time.

Executive Director Dhungana added that from today, the center is also capable of printing citizenship certificates, customs duty stickers, postal stamps, land ownership certificates, and visa stickers.

To date, around Rs 3 billion has been invested in the Security Printing Center.