Kathmandu, Nov. 1 -- With Nepal's passport stocks dwindling rapidly, the Department of Passports (DoP) under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs could face an acute shortage after December. Current stocks will only meet demand up to December, while as per the new agreement, two German firms are scheduled to deliver passports only after mid-March, 2026.

Given the large number of people applying for passports, especially youths going abroad for jobs and higher education, as well as those renewing existing ones, Nepal cannot afford to stop passport distribution even for a day.

To address the looming crisis, Prime Minister Sushila Karki has herself stepped in, and started talks with the German ambassador. She has also instructed officials at th...