Syed Anwaar Hyder, the Senior Advisor and In-charge of the Federal Ombudsman Regional Office Karachi, emphasized the need for enhancing staff strength and increasing bank counters to improve the efficiency of passport issuance. Accompanied by associate adviser FOS Karachi, Riaz Ahmed Memon, Hyder stressed the importance of expediting the printing and lamination process for passports.
The visit, conducted on the directives of Wafaqi Mohtasib Ejaz Ahmad Qureshi, included a thorough inspection of functional areas and facilities, as well as discussions with officials and interactions with applicants present at the premises. During the visit, Hyder noted that many applicants complained of delays in receiving their passports, leading to inconvenience and multiple visits to the office.
Highlighting the challenges faced by citizens, particularly students and workers intending to travel abroad, due to delays in passport issuance, Hyder emphasized the need for finding permanent solutions to ensure timely delivery of passports. He mentioned issues such as the availability of lamination paper contributing to the delays and stated that the Ombudsman secretariat would recommend the government to address these issues promptly.
Director Immigration and Passport South Zone, Saeed Ahmed, briefed the officials on the operations of district offices and special counters established to facilitate different segments of the population. He highlighted the stringent measures taken to deter the involvement of agents and brokers in the passport issuance process.
The proactive role of the Federal Ombudsman in resolving public complaints and improving departmental services was lauded during the visit. Additionally, it was announced that the I&P Saddar Office would remain open on Saturdays to facilitate Hajj passport issuance for pilgrims. The need for further development of the Immigration and Passport department in line with corporate sector standards, akin to NADRA, was also emphasized to enhance service delivery efficiency.
