KATHMANDU: The number of government officials present at the airport to welcome or see off VVIPs and VIPs has been reduced following an amendment to the VVIP and VIP Security Management Work Procedures.
The amendment was made by the Council of Ministers at the initiative of the Ministry of Home Affairs, and it was implemented four days ago.
The Ministry stated that the first amendment to the Work Procedures came into effect during Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s official visit to China today.
Dil Kumar Tamang, Information Officer at the Ministry, explained that the number of officials present at the VVIP lounge of Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) when bidding farewell to or receiving the President, Vice President, and Prime Minister during foreign visits has decreased following the amendment.
He added that this change was evident during the Prime Minister’s departure to China today.
The amendment aims to streamline and improve the efficiency of VVIP welcome and farewell ceremonies.
For instance, the number of officials present at the airport when the President departs for or returns from a foreign visit has been reduced to 14, including the Vice President, Prime Minister, and Home Minister.
Previously, 23 officials, including the Vice President, were present during such occasions.
Similarly, the number of officials with access from the VVIP lounge to the mini motorcade at TIA has been reduced.
Before the amendment, 13 officials, including the Vice President, had access to the motorcade. Now, only nine officials have this privilege.
Regarding the Vice President’s foreign visits, the number of officials present at the VVIP lounge for the arrival or departure of the Vice President has been reduced from 12, including the Prime Minister, to seven, including the Prime Minister.
Additionally, the number of officials with access to the mini motorcade during the Vice President’s departure has been reduced from seven to four.
This means only the Prime Minister, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Secretary at the Office of the Vice President, and the Chief of Protocol will be present during the Vice President’s official foreign trips.
As per the amended Work Procedure, 12 officials, including the Acting Prime Minister, will now be present whenever the Prime Minister departs for or returns from a foreign visit.
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