South Asian News Network

Kathmandu, July 6: Information and Communication Minister Dr. Bikram Timilsina has said that the government has adopted a policy to develop the Security Printing Center as a self-reliant, professional, and result-oriented institution. In today’s meeting of the National Assembly (NA), the upper house of the Federal Parliament, while responding to questions raised in the Assembly earlier, he informed that a budget of Rs 220 million has been allocated for the Security Printing Center in the upcoming fiscal year 2026/27. “The government aims to reduce dependence on foreign printing by carrying out security-related printing domestically,” Communication Minister Dr. Timilsina said. MP Roshni Meche questioned the justification for allocating Rs 150 million for the purchase of a ‘Mobile Frequency Monitoring Van’ under the Ministry of Information and Communication, and Rs 220 million for the security printing press, while students in remote areas still cannot easily get notebooks and books. Responding to Meche’s question, Communications Minister Dr. Timilsina mentioned that while preparing the budget for the current fiscal year, he personally participated in detailed discussions for every item under the ministry and clarified that not even a single rupee collected from the people’s taxes would be misused. The Minister said that the allocated budget would be spent only according to the set objectives and standards, and emphasized that the government is committed to ensuring frugality, transparency, accountability, and good governance in spending. Similarly, he clarified that the need for educational materials and investment in communication infrastructure are not alternatives to each other since they fall under different budget headings, have different natures, and serve different purposes. He also mentioned that strengthening the technical infrastructure of the communication sector is equally important. Minister Timilsina stated that 2.4 million smart vehicle driver licenses and 3.5 million postal stamps have been made available to the relevant authorities after printing them at the Center. He informed the upper house of the Federal Parliament that the budget received by the Security Printing Center for the upcoming fiscal year was not for operating expenses but was a capital investment made to fulfill legal obligations. “According to the legal provisions regarding security printing, the only responsible body for printing and producing national security documents is the Security Printing Center,” he asserted. He said that preparations are underway to produce additional security documents like excise duty tickets, citizenship, and national ID cards from the Center starting from the upcoming fiscal year, and that the existing production capacity cannot meet the growing demand. Communications Minister Dr. Timilsina emphasized that if the Security Printing Center operates with professionalism, we can start producing the security documents that are currently printed overseas right here at home. This shift would save foreign currency, generate revenue from printing services, and ensure a solid return on investment. He pointed out that this initiative isn’t just about spending; it’s a strategic investment aimed at resource creation. Minister Timilsina highlighted the government’s long-term vision to develop the Security Printing Center into a self-sufficient, professional, and profit-driven entity, believing that this will enhance the state’s financial capabilities and lay a stronger foundation for further investments in vital social sectors like education and health. He also noted that investing in communication infrastructure will play a crucial role in boosting revenue, expanding technical capabilities, and enhancing national security over time. In discussing the upcoming ‘Mobile Frequency Monitoring Van’ that the Ministry of Communication plans to introduce next fiscal year, he clarified that this isn’t just any ordinary vehicle; it’s essentially a mobile laboratory designed for monitoring the ‘Radio Spectrum.’ Since radio frequencies and electromagnetic waves are invisible and can’t be measured directly, a cutting-edge system is essential for effective monitoring. He pointed out that every country is required to have a radio frequency monitoring system, as recommended by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). Given the significant investment needed to set up a permanent monitoring system across Nepal, Minister Timilsina announced plans to acquire a mobile frequency monitoring system that can be deployed in various locations as needed. According to Communication Minister Dr. Timilsina, this system will play a crucial role in managing the limited natural resource known as the ‘radio spectrum.’ It will help identify unlicensed telecommunication systems, FM stations, television broadcasts, and wireless devices, while also controlling frequency interference affecting legitimate service providers. Similarly, Dr Timilsina said that the system will be useful for regulating and monitoring modern wireless services including 4G and 5G mobile services, ‘digital’ broadcasting, improving the quality of telecommunication services, controlling the use of illegal devices and increasing revenue from license and spectrum fees. He informed that the government is directly receiving about four billion 150 million rupees annually from frequency and spectrum management and this sector is indirectly contributing about 1.5 percent to the country’s gross domestic product. The Communications Minister mentioned that after the new system comes into operation, it will be easier to control the use of frequencies without a license and to collect more revenue and to identify and resolve harmful frequency interference that is against the technical standards. Additionally, it aims to reduce international frequency interference in border areas and ensure that international obligations are met effectively. Dr. Timilsina also mentioned that the mobile frequency monitoring van currently in use was purchased back in 2001 with support from a World Bank loan aimed at improving the telecommunication sector. He expressed his commitment during the meeting to thoroughly examine the issues, suggestions, complaints, and concerns related to the ministry and to pursue solutions proactively.