ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: Minister for Interior and Narcotics Control, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Wednesday launched a system to deliver passport at home to ensure ease and comfort for the public.
The minister also inaugurated new online Pakistan Origin Card (POC) and online Family Registration Certificate by National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA).
At the inaugural ceremony held here at NADRA Headquarters, Nisar said since taking charge as Minister, he has been endeavoring to bring innovations and reforms in passport office and NADRA with the sole objective to facilitate public, end long queues, mafia outside offices and control corruption.
He said with regard to passport, an online service would also be introduced soon and added SMS services have already been launched by passport authorities not only to inform the applicants about status of their applications but also get feedback and complaints.
The minister acknowledged cooperation of TCS and National Bank of Pakistan (NBP), saying more than 380 branches of NBP would collect passport fee.
He said initially the passport home delivery system is being introduced in Islamabad and Rawalpindi and added during next four months the system would be extended countrywide.
Ch. Nisar said people will be informed about delivery of passport through SMS and frequent visit of the office will not be necessary.
The minister said incentive-based structure would be introduced in passport offices, adding that corruption was not acceptable and attitude of all staffers should be supportive and cooperative towards the public.
He appreciated efforts made by Passport Office for creation of a new system which can be further improved with passion and hard work.
The minister said he has directed the DG passport to make efforts to introduce online visa system for Pakistan.
He further elaborated that as part of measures to facilitate the public, the validity of passport has been increased from five years to ten years while duration of passport delivery has also been reduced to almost one week.
He said from January next, passport office would launch Mega Centre with state-of-the -art facilities.
The minister said National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis has already been made online while introduction of online POC is another initiative to facilitate people.
The minister while answering a question said all NADRA is a national institution and he has been trying his best to run it in a better way.
He said those who are criticizing the NADRA should stop this practice as transfer of vote is sole duty of Election Commission of Pakistan not the NADRA. He rejected the allegations levelled by a political party.
Replying to another question, he said corruption in NADRA is intolerable.
“Corruption and NADRA are anti-thesis and cannot go together,” the minister said and added he tried to eliminate mafias in NADRA and the Passport Office, by launching crackdown against corrupt persons.
“I am still not satisfied with the actions taken against corruption prevalent in NADRA,” he added.
“Now I want to eradicate corruption in NADRA as rapidly as it was spread in the past,” he vowed.
The event was also attended by Director General Passport, Usman Akhtar Bajwa, Chairman NADRA, Usman Yousaf Mobin, Country Head Corporate, TCS, Salman Akram, higher officials and media persons.
Source: APP
