Nepal begins In-house printing of driver’s licenses at security printing center

Kavre: The government has commenced printing driver’s licenses using its own printing facility, marking a significant step toward self-reliance in official documentation.

The Security Printing Center under the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology began printing new licenses from today. Minister Jagadish Kharel inaugurated the process by pressing a button on the center’s printing machine in Banepa, Kavre.

Minister Kharel stated that despite legal complications and various challenges, the license printing operation has been initiated after making the necessary arrangements. “The machines at the Security Printing Center had been lying idle for years, covered in dust, and the facility was like a ruin. We have cleared the dust and started printing work,” he said.

The center’s machines, capable of printing national identity cards, passports, red documents, various stickers, and postage stamps, had remained unused for a long period. “Now, after much effort, we have begun printing licenses at the government press. There is a requirement to print 2.8 million driving licenses. Starting this work here ensures good governance and reduces dependency on foreign printing,” Minister Kharel added.

Previously, the printing of licenses, passports, identity cards, and other official documents had been outsourced to foreign companies, raising both security concerns and unnecessary expenditure. Minister Kharel noted that printing has now started after policy reforms resolved long-standing hurdles related to infrastructure, budget, and manpower.

Devraj Dhungana, Executive Director of the Security Printing Center, informed that printing commenced today following the resolution of legal and technical issues, with an initial agreement to print 1.2 million copies in the first phase. The center plans to print 500 licenses daily initially, with production gradually increasing. Card-based printing has started, and paper-based printing will begin from an under-construction facility within six months.

According to Dhungana, the center is also capable of printing citizenship certificates, excise stickers, postage stamps, red papers, and visa stickers. Nearly three billion rupees have been invested in establishing the Security Printing Center to date.