Summary Mohsin Naqvi ordered officials removed after finding long queues, vacant counters and complaints of delays and alleged agent activity during a surprise visit to Lahore’s Garden Town Passport Office.
LAHORE (Dunya News) – Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi expressed severe displeasure over long queues and hours-long delays faced by citizens during a surprise visit to the Passport Office in Garden Town, Lahore.
During the visit, several counters were found vacant, while staff members were also absent. Citizens gathered around the interior minister and lodged numerous complaints about delays and poor services at the passport office.
Citizens told Mohsin Naqvi that they had been waiting at the passport office since morning and that their turn had not come even after four hours. Some also alleged that agents outside the passport office were demanding money to get their work processed quickly.
One citizen told the interior minister that he had paid Rs5,500 to an agent. An elderly citizen also complained that he was supposed to receive his passport that day but was informed by the staff that his passport had not yet been printed.
After witnessing the situation at the passport office, Mohsin Naqvi expressed strong anger and ordered the removal of Passport Office In-charge and Deputy Director Shehzad Aslam from his position over mismanagement and negligence in performing his duties.
The interior minister also directed the Deputy Director of the Federal Investigation Agency’s Anti-Corruption unit in Lahore to be removed over the alleged presence of an agent mafia outside the passport office.
Mohsin Naqvi issued instructions to the relevant authorities on the spot to address citizens’ complaints and personally apologized to the citizens over the difficulties they faced.
The interior minister said the situation at the passport office was extremely regrettable and that such treatment of citizens was unacceptable.
He said there would be no compromise on providing fast services to citizens at passport offices, adding that disciplinary action would be taken without discrimination over any negligence or failure to perform duties.
Mohsin Naqvi said providing facilities to citizens was both the government’s responsibility and its duty.
