Kathmandu, August 14
Minister for Foreign Affairs Pradeep Gyawali says his government does not have plans to provide Nepali passports to non-residential Nepalis.
Fielding lower House lawmakers’ questions on the draft Passport Act, Gywali said that the although NRNs have economic and social rights in Nepal, the prevailing laws do not give them political rights. He said that it was too early for him to comment on the issue.
Gyawali’s comments come as commentators say that the government should be willing to provide passports if it is willing to provide citizenship. Gyawali said, “Let the new Citizenship Act be passed first, then we can debate about passports for NRNs.”
