Visiting Foreign Minister Prakash Sharan Mahat has urged his Australian counterpart Julie Bishop to restore visa services in Kathmandu.

In a meeting, Mahat urged the Australian foreign minister to make arrangements for issuing visa to Nepali students and visitors willing to go to Australia from the Australian Embassy in Kathmandu, the Nepali Embassy in Canberra said in a statement.

At present, Nepali nationals have to obtain Australian visas from New Delhi. Until some years ago, Australia issued visas from Kathmandu. After the relocation of visa service to the Indian capital, Nepalis willing to visit Australia are facing delays and hardships in arranging for their travel.

The Australian minister is said to have responded that she would consult with the concerned offices for an appropriate decision, according to the statement.

Thanking the Australian government for its development assistance to Nepal, Mahat expressed his gratitude to the government of Australia for their support during the rescue and relief operations in the aftermath of the April earthquake last year.

Expressing her interest in the post-quake reconstruction efforts in Nepal, Minister Bishop reaffirmed her commitment to increasing assistance to Nepal in various sectors. She noted as a positive development the increase in the number of Nepalis studying in Australia while Australian students, though in small numbers, were going to Nepal for research and further studies.

In his meeting with Minister for International Development and the Pacific Concetta Feirravanti-Wells, Mahat urged the Australian government to increase its development assistance to Nepal and investment in Nepal’s energy, infrastructure and other potential areas.