Nepal committee blocks security printing press tender

A tender in Nepal to buy a security printing press has been halted by the intervention of the country’s Public Account Committee.

The PAC says the tender needs to be run again because of “irregularities” in the procurement process, and it has asked the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority to investigate the matter, reports myRepublica. The press is intended for use in printing the country’s passports, supplies of which are said to be dwindling.

It was previously reported that Nepal’s Minister for Communications and Information Technology – Gokul Banskota – resigned from his post “after he was heard seeking a commission in a leaked audiotape” relating to the purchase of a printing press, says the news website.

The tender document indicates the system will be able to provide grey scale laser engraving on polycarbonate data page, with a colour facial image in a resolution of at least 600 dpi that should last for a minimum of 10 years.