Islamabad, Zubair Kasuri on Hythe instructions of Interior Minister Syed Mohsin Naqvi
A high-level meeting was held in the Ministry of Interior to consider setting up a new authority to oversee immigration, passport and visa matters in Pakistan.
The meeting chaired by the Secretary of the Ministry of Interior was attended by senior officials of various departments. The participants discussed the proposal to establish “Pakistan Immigration, Passport, and Visa Authority” to improve quality of service delivery and increase international credibility.
The Director-General of Immigration and Passports explained the rationale behind the proposed authority, highlighting the challenges facing the department, including financial constraints. The new authority is expected to gain financial autonomy, which will help the department improve its services and gain international recognition. He has further informed that at present the number of people making passports across the country is in lakhs and those who have applied have only turned to apply in February 2024 while it is more than six months away. People are still not getting passports
He said that a printing machine has broken down for which the Ministry of Finance is providing funds to repair it. Millions of Pakistanis are deprived of basic passports
The Ministry of Home Affairs has further informed that
The establishment of the Pakistan Immigration, Passport and Visa Authority is seen as an important step towards streamlining the immigration and visa process in Pakistan. This initiative is expected to benefit travelers, tourists and businesses alike and enhance the country’s reputation globally.