KATHMANDU: Black-marketing of postal stamps has become a significant issue in front of the District Administration Office in Khalanga, Dadeldhura. Shopkeepers near the District Administration and Police Office are selling Rs. 10 postal stamps for Rs. 15, which is a 50 percent markup. This practice is in violation of the Government of Nepal's commercial policy, which limits profits to a maximum of 10 percent on items.
The District Postal Office, located about one kilometer away, sells stamps at their official prices. However, due to the black-marketing, customers are forced to pay inflated prices. For instance, a Rs. 13 postal stamp requires the purchase of two Rs. 10 stamps, costing Rs. 30 due to the markup. Local resident Gyanendra Joshi experienced this firsthand when he needed a Rs. 13 stamp for his duplicate citizenship application, but had to pay Rs. 30.
Despite warnings from the District Administration Office, including a personal warning from the Chief District Officer, the shopkeepers have continued their practices. They have allegedly used the District Postal Office's lack of commissions or discounts for stamp sales as justification for their activities, arguing that this results in processing fees and annoyance for customers.
The problem is made worse by the fact that a large number of people rely on these stores to get postal stamps because going to the postal office, which is next to a busy bus park, is inconvenient. The local government is finding it difficult to enact laws and deal with the problem of black-marketing.
