KATHMANDU: The government has directed Nepali diplomatic missions abroad to operate separate bank accounts to collect donations for the Prime Minister’s Disaster Relief Fund from people and organisations overseas.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the arrangement was made because direct transfers to the fund may not be possible in some cases, while transferring amounts exceeding prescribed transaction limits could also create difficulties.
“Under the existing regulations, missions have been instructed to use their existing accounts or open new ones. These accounts will be used to collect relief donations from the Nepali diaspora, foreign citizens, local organisations and community groups,” the ministry said.
The missions will now be required to maintain daily records of the amounts collected in the prescribed format. The funds collected must be transferred to the designated relief account every month.
Until now, arrangements had been made for donations to be deposited directly into the Prime Minister’s Disaster Relief Fund account.
The ministry also said it and Nepali diplomatic missions abroad were closely coordinating with friendly countries to ensure that travel advisories were limited only to areas specifically affected by the floods.
“The fact that other parts of the country remain open and safe for travel and tourism is also being clearly highlighted,” the ministry said on Sunday.
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