AsiaNet-Pakistan Premier Editorial Content and Press Release Distribution Service
Islamabad, April 18, 2013 (PPI-OT): Director General Immigration and Passport, Mr. Zulfikar Cheema gave a detailed briefing to the Wafaqi Mohtasib’s probe committee on passport imbroglio.
During the briefing the D.G. informed about various initiatives that have been taken by him to improve the situation so that suffering of the people could be mitigated. He also told that special arrangement are being made with the suppliers to provide security cleared lamination paper for at least 300 thousand passport to ease up the pressure.
This will make possible to issue up to 10,000 passports a day, he said. The Directorate has also prioritized the issuance of passports keeping in view the urgency to travel for medical treatment, studies, and jobs or where visa might be expiring, he added.
He assured that stringent measures have been adopted to curb corrupt practices being associated with the process. Similarly entry of all unauthorized persons into passport office has been barred to rid the system of agent mafia.
The DG, I and P also informed that for the assistance of the general public, the directorate has established a help line for applicants to find out the status of their request in addition to setting up a compliant centre where citizen can lodge their grievances.
It may be pertinent to note that Wafaqi Mohtasib, Mr. M. Sulman Faruqui constituted the Special committee in response to persistent reports of widespread corruption and inordinate delay in issuance of Machine Readable Passports (MRPs).
The four member committee headed by Justice ® Raza Muhammad Khan has been mandated to inquire into the causes of the precarious situation, identify systemic weaknesses and make recommendation for their rectification.
For more information, contact:
Haji Ahmed Malik
Principal Information Officer
Press Information Department (PID)
Tel: +9251 925 2323 and +9251 925 2324
Fax: +9251 925 2325 and +9251 925 2326
Email: piopid@gmail.com