KATHMANDU: Nepal is turning its nationwide postal network into a government courier. It is using the system to move millions of driving licences and passports. The service is also expanding into health, education and land administration.
The Department of Postal Services says it has transported 10.39 million driving licences and 247,043 passports through the network. Of these, 1,099 licences and 8,669 passports have been delivered directly to recipients’ homes. Home delivery now covers 76 of Nepal’s 77 districts. Preparations are underway in remote Humla.
The figures show the scale of the network. They also highlight the early stage of its transformation. Most documents are still moved between government offices. Only a small share reaches citizens at home.
“We are modernising the postal service to deliver government services to citizens’ doorsteps and developing it as a government courier service,” says Manmaya Bhattarai Pangeni, director general at the Department of Postal Services.
The postal network is taking on an increasingly important role in public services. It has transported 1,480 laboratory samples from 17 hospitals, the department said. It has also delivered 44,184 items for the health, education and information centres. In addition, it has sent 130 sacks of medical supplies to health insurance offices in more than 28 districts.
Nepal Telecom uses the service to transport materials other than SIM cards. An agreement with the Department of Land Management and Archives covers the delivery of land ownership certificates and other official documents.
Nepal Open University has begun using the network to send academic certificates to students. Talks are under way with Tribhuvan University for a similar arrangement. Karnali province has launched home delivery of driving licences through an agreement with the postal service. Officials are discussing a similar service in Sudurpaschim.
The expansion faces basic logistical constraints, though. Nepal needs a more systematic addressing system, Pangeni explained. Citizens should be able to update their addresses when they move. The postal service also lacks sufficient vehicles and information technology equipment, she said.
The government has begun upgrading the network, introducing a seven-digit postal code system and revised postal routes. It has also strengthened internal tracking. Updated postal code information has been submitted to the Universal Postal Union.
The government has selected 50 post offices to become technology-based ‘smart postal’ facilities.
International operations are also being upgraded. Faster screening of postal consignments has been introduced at Tribhuvan International Airport. The department has agreements with several airlines to facilitate air transport of mail. It is also discussing cooperation with Qatar’s national carrier to expand international destinations.
Officials are studying a direct link between the postal tracking system and the Department of Passports. The move could improve monitoring of deliveries.
The department has completed the first phase of updating letter and parcel data under the Universal Postal Union’s 2025 guidelines. The government wants to move the postal service beyond its traditional role. It aims to make the network part of the country’s public-service infrastructure.
The scale of home delivery remains modest. That highlights the challenge of turning an established postal network into a reliable nationwide last-mile service.
