Nepal Postal Service to Implement 'Express Way' for International Courier Clearance

Kathmandu. An 'express way' is set to be utilized for the clearance of goods sent abroad and imported from abroad via postal services.

Manmaya Bhattarai Pangeni, Director General of the Department of Postal Services, stated that arrangements have been made to use an 'express way' for postal couriers in coordination with the Department of Postal Services, Tribhuvan Airport Customs Office, and the Civil Aviation Authority.

"Postal items are safer and more reliable when sent via the express route. Efforts for this have been ongoing for a long time. Following interest and directives from the ministry, the implementation process has moved forward," she said. According to Director General Pangeni, a 'dedicated' clearance system will now be established at Tribhuvan International Airport for postal couriers.

Additionally, arrangements have been made to allow the dispatch of goods abroad and the clearance of imported goods through postal offices even on public holidays. Although the Dillibazar General Post Office had previously provided services on public holidays, customs clearance was often hindered as the local customs office and banks remained closed.

Following complaints regarding service disruptions due to a lack of inter-agency coordination, the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology took notice. Under the direction of Communications Minister Dr. Bikram Timilsina, the Department of Postal Services initiated the process to coordinate with the Department of Customs to ensure services remain available on public holidays.

Director General of the Department of Customs, Shyam Prasad Bhandari, stated that instructions have already been issued to the office to facilitate postal item clearance even on public holidays. Following the Ministry of Communications' directive, the Department of Postal Services wrote to the Department of Customs requesting service provision through the customs office at the General Post Office on public holidays, which has now been authorized.

The volume of courier services via post has been increasing recently. Director General Pangeni noted that the department is continuously working on improvements to make the transit of goods to and from Nepal faster, safer, and more reliable. In the month of Falgun alone, the Dillibazar General Post Office received over 19,200 items from abroad, including parcels, small packets, letters, registry letters, and book posts. Similarly, the number of such exported items was around 11,700, generating approximately 2.9 million rupees in customs revenue, according to the office.

It is expected that operating the express route for postal courier services and keeping offices open on public holidays will not only provide citizens with easier access to services but also have a positive impact on the office's business and overall performance.