Government Launches 'MOFA Mitra' App for Consular Services

Kathmandu. The government has launched the 'MOFA Mitra' app with the objective of making consular services more convenient, simple, and technology-friendly for Nepali citizens living abroad. Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal inaugurated the app at a program organized at the Department of Consular Services on Tuesday. Now, through the 'MOFA Mitra' app, Nepalis living abroad and their relatives can register online applications, raise grievances, and easily contact and coordinate with the concerned Nepali missions from their own location. Foreign Minister Khanal stated that the use of this app will make consular services more effective. Mentioning that there have been problems in rescue and assistance due to the lack of accurate data of Nepalis living abroad, he informed that the government has started collecting data of Nepalis based on information received from various government bodies, destination countries, and individuals themselves. He said that this will make consular assistance and emergency rescue operations faster and more effective in the future. He clarified that the 'MOFA Mitra' app was developed with the aim of making Nepalis living abroad feel that the government is close to them in difficult situations. According to him, one in every six Nepalis is currently abroad. Mentioning that about 5 million Nepalis are abroad, he said that an effort has been made to provide services through a single app to remove the confusion about where to go and whom to contact when in trouble. Nepalis inside and outside Nepal can download the app and easily register grievances when in trouble. Minister Khanal also informed that a system has been put in place to 'track' the status of grievances and take further action if they are not addressed in time. Minister Khanal also informed that the 'Legal Nepal Consular Geo Gov NP' online system has been established and put into operation. According to him, this system has now been expanded to all provinces, district administration offices, Nepali missions abroad, and about five hundred local levels. He informed that the goal is to expand the service to all 753 local levels by the end of the current financial year. He said that through the online system, facilitation has been provided in rescue and legal assistance for Nepalis facing problems, being stranded, or imprisoned abroad, in the process of bringing the bodies of Nepali citizens who died abroad to Nepal or performing their last rites abroad, and in claims for insurance and compensation. He also stated that the ministry has a goal to gradually digitize all services of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs completely.