Kathmandu, July 7 -- The Department of Passports is all set to print and distribute the new passports procured from two German firms from next Monday despite intervention from the Prime Minister's Office and the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA).

Responding to lawmakers during discussions on the Appropriation Bill in the National Assembly on Tuesday, Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal said the Department of Passports would begin issuing passports under the new system next week.

The transition follows months of delay after the passport procurement process became embroiled in a controversy. Two German firms-Veridos GmbH and Muhlbauer ID Service GmbH-were awarded the multi-billion-rupee contract last year to supply pass...