ISLAMABAD – The timings of eight major passport offices across Pakistan have been revised, with the offices set to operate in two shifts from Monday to Friday.
Under the new schedule, the first shift will run from 8:00am to 4:00pm, while the second shift will operate from 4:00pm to midnight.
A notification regarding the revised working hours has been issued.
The move will allow the eight major passport offices to provide services across extended hours on weekdays, with the second shift continuing until 12:00am.
Earlier this month, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi ordered immediate action after citizens complained about long queues, delays and the alleged presence of an agent network during his surprise visit to the Garden Town Passport Office.
Naqvi visited the passport office unexpectedly and expressed strong displeasure after seeing citizens waiting in long lines for several hours.
During the visit, applicants shared their difficulties with the minister, including complaints about alleged agents offering faster services in exchange for additional payments.
One citizen claimed that he had paid Rs5,500 to an agent and said agents were demanding extra money to speed up passport processing. An elderly applicant also complained that although he was supposed to receive his passport that day, staff told him that it had not yet been printed.
After hearing the complaints and reviewing the situation, Naqvi ordered the removal of Passport Office in-charge Shehzad Aslam over alleged mismanagement and negligence.
He also ordered the removal of the FIA Lahore Deputy Director Anti-Corruption over the alleged presence of an agent network at the passport office.
The interior minister directed relevant officials to address citizens’ complaints immediately.
Speaking to applicants, Naqvi apologized for the situation and said the treatment of citizens was unacceptable. He stressed that there would be no compromise on providing faster and better services at passport offices.
Naqvi further said that providing facilities to citizens was both the government’s responsibility and duty, adding that effective measures would be taken to address public difficulties at passport offices.
