The government on Thursday decided to revoke the use of blue number plates for vehicles used by honorary consuls general and honorary consuls appointed by foreign countries in Nepal, effective Friday. The decision was taken by a Cabinet meeting on Thursday.

Several past governments had also revoked and reinstated the use of blue number plates for vehicles used by the honorary consuls general and honorary consuls.

The government made the decision based on complaints that vehicles with blue number plates have been misused, said officials.

“This decision has been made in accordance with international law concerning unpaid consuls general/consuls, reciprocity, the Honorary Commercial Consul Rules, 2039 (1982), and current practices. Additionally, the government has made this decision based on complaints regarding the misuse of vehicles with blue number plates,” said an official at the foreign ministry.

Vehicles currently using blue number plates will be converted to private registration, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will coordinate with relevant agencies to implement the decision.

However, honorary consuls general and consuls will still be allowed to use the national flag of Nepal during Nepal National Day celebrations within their designated consular areas, on the national day celebrations of the appointing country, during official meetings, welcomes, and farewells when the head of state/government or foreign minister of the respective country visits Nepal, and on occasions when the ambassador of the respective country visits Nepal, reads the decision.

Earlier, the KP Sharma Oli government in 2021 had decided to revoke the use of blue number plates by honorary consuls general and consuls. But in 2022, then foreign minister Narayan Khadka allowed them to use blue number plates again. In Nepal's case, most honorary consuls general and consuls are industrialists, business leaders, and prominent figures from various business houses.