Kathmandu— Nepal's Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) issued a public notice Friday expressing concern over the proliferation of unofficial QR codes and personal account details being used to solicit funds for those affected by devastating floods in the Rasuwa and Nuwakot districts, urging caution when providing financial assistance. The PMO noted that while support is pouring in from various sectors for rescue, relief, and rehabilitation efforts, unauthorized fundraising poses a risk of financial fraud and hinders transparent management of donations. To ensure aid reaches intended recipients, the government has directed citizens to verify account names before making contributions.

Concerns Over Unofficial Fundraising

The PMO’s notice highlighted that individuals, groups, and organizations are independently collecting funds through unauthorized QR codes and personal accounts, raising serious concerns about accountability. Spokesperson Hemraj Aryal stated the office has observed this practice occurring alongside legitimate fundraising initiatives for those impacted by the Bhote Koshi floods. The government is emphasizing the need to channel donations through official avenues to maintain transparency and prevent misuse of funds during the ongoing disaster response.

Official Donation Channels Detailed

To facilitate secure contributions, the PMO outlined a range of authorized methods for both domestic and international donors. Individuals residing abroad can utilize card payment gateways via online links (pmdrf.nchl.com.np or pmrelieffund.himalayanbank.com) or scan designated NCHL and HBL QR codes. Furthermore, users of Alipay+, UPI-India, and various remittance services like GME, Remitly, Wise, and TapTapSend can directly remit funds to specified Nepali Rupee (NPR) accounts.

List of Authorized Bank Accounts

The PMO provided a comprehensive list of designated bank accounts across multiple financial institutions where donations to the Prime Minister Disaster Relief Fund (PMDF) can be made. These include Rastriya Banijya Bank, Nepal Bank Limited, Agriculture Development Bank Limited, Everest Bank Limited, Global IME Bank, Nabil Bank, Standard Chartered Bank, Laxmi Sunrise Bank Ltd, and Himalayan Bank Ltd., with corresponding account numbers and SWIFT codes. A US Dollar (USD) account is also available at Himalayan Bank Ltd. Domestic QR code payments are supported through Fonepay and NepalPAY networks, linked to various participating banks.

The PMO encourages those seeking further information or clarification to contact them directly via Singha Durbar, Hello Sarkar, or the National Emergency Operation Centre (NEOC).

(With inputs from RN)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.