Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi orders removal of passport officials following surprise inspection

The inspection was prompted by persistent reports of poor service delivery, and the reality on the ground confirmed that many individuals had been waiting for hours without receiving assistance.

Citizens present at the facility directly informed the minister that they had been stranded at the office since the early morning hours, with some reporting that they had not been served even after waiting for four consecutive hours.

The grievances extended beyond simple administrative delays, as several citizens leveled serious allegations regarding the presence of an active agent mafia operating outside the premises. These individuals reportedly demanded illicit payments to expedite the processing of passport applications, effectively creating a two-tier system that penalized those unable or unwilling to pay bribes.

One citizen provided a specific account to the interior minister, claiming to have paid Rs5,500 to an agent in an attempt to bypass the sluggish official channels.

Another elderly citizen highlighted the frustration of the current system by explaining that he had arrived expecting to collect his passport, only to be informed by staff that the document had not yet been printed, despite prior assurances.

In response to these findings, Mohsin Naqvi expressed profound dissatisfaction with the state of affairs, labeling the situation as entirely unacceptable and regrettable. He took immediate executive action by ordering the removal of the Passport Office In-charge and Deputy Director Shehzad Aslam, citing gross mismanagement and a failure to perform essential professional duties.

Furthermore, the minister directed that the Deputy Director of the Federal Investigation Agency’s Anti-Corruption unit in Lahore be removed from his post, holding the unit accountable for the unchecked presence of agents who have been exploiting desperate citizens.

Beyond the disciplinary measures, the minister personally apologized to the affected citizens for the hardships they endured while attempting to access government services. During his interaction with the public, he emphasized that the government maintains a zero-tolerance policy regarding negligence and that there will be no compromise on the standard of service provided at passport offices nationwide.

He stated that disciplinary actions would be pursued without discrimination against any official found to be failing in their responsibilities. The minister reiterated that the provision of efficient, transparent, and accessible public services is a fundamental duty of the government, and he issued on-the-spot instructions to the relevant authorities to rectify the immediate issues facing the Garden Town facility.

This intervention underscores a broader push to address administrative bottlenecks and curb corruption within public-facing departments, as the government seeks to restore public trust in the passport issuance process.

The minister concluded by asserting that the current level of service is inconsistent with the government's commitment to the public, promising that future oversight would be intensified to ensure that citizens are treated with the respect and efficiency they deserve when interacting with state institutions.