DELAY IN ISSUANCE OF PASSPORTS: WAFAQI MOHTASIB DIRECTS INSPECTION TEAMS TO VISIT PASSPORT OFFICES AT ISLAMABAD AND OTHER MAJOR CITIES.

OVERSEAS PAKISTANIS WORST SUFFERERS IN THE EPISODE: WAFAQI MOHTASIB.

CORRUPT ELEMENTS TO BE EXPOSED AND PUNISHED, SAYS WAFAQI MOHTASIB.

Expressing his deep concern over the persistent complaints of irregularities, malpractices, inordinate delays and unsatisfactory facilities at the Passport Offices for the general public, the Wafaqi Mohtasib, Mr. Ejaz Ahmad Qureshi has directed immediate inspection of the Passport Offices by the Wafaqi Mohtasib’s Inspection Teams at Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, Quetta, Peshawar and other major cities for looking into these complaints and suggesting urgent remedial measures.

It may be recalled that taking suo moto notice of very large number of complaints against the delay in issuance of passports, an Inspection Team from the WMS had earlier visited the Passport Office Islamabad on the directions of the Wafaqi Mohtasib to ascertain the causes of the delay and breakdown of the efficient delivery services there. The Compliance Report submitted by the Passport Office as a follow-up was termed as unsatisfactory and lacking in substance by the Wafaqi Mohtasib.

The Wafaqi Mohtasib said that the Overseas Pakistanis are the worst sufferers in the entire episode as in a number of cases either their visas got expired or they have been unable to join their jobs abroad owing to this state of affairs. Same is the case with those who wanted to proceed abroad in connection with their higher studies or family visits etc. He said that the elements found responsible for creating artificial shortages and indulging in malpractices and other irregularities need to be exposed and be dealt with an iron hand to ensure that things would run smoothly in the respective Passport Offices. ”The Passport Office must put its own house in order with a view to ensuring efficient delivery of services to the people, for which they pay to the organization regularly and frequent breakdowns in this connection are unfortunate and absolutely unacceptable”, he observed