Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi announced that the Government will request Pakistan Tehreek-E-Insaf (PTI) to reconsider its planned protest on February 8, but if the party refuses, the State will take the necessary measures.
Naqvi made these comments during his visit to the Mega Passport Center in Peco Road in Lahore.
In response to a question, the Interior Minister recalled that a similar request was made to PTI on November 26, and another request will be issued before the protest of February 8. “If they still refuse, then the State will be forced to intervene,” he added.
Naqvi also declared that the accumulation of passport applications had been resolved a month ago, and in collaboration with the database and the National Registry Authority (NADRA), 14 new passport offices are being established throughout the country, with three additional centers that open in Lahore and the Shimla Pahari center has also been updated to meet the growing demand.
When addressing the issue of passport authority, NAQVI expressed its commitment to its rapid establishment, emphasizing that creating a dedicated agency would optimize passport issuance processes. “We have already discussed this with the prime minister, and the plan is in motion,” he said.
Regarding the Federal Research Agency (FIA), the Interior Minister hinted in significant reforms in the next few days, especially when addressing the problems faced by legal travelers at airports.
“People who travel abroad through adequate channels should not be harassed at airports,” he said, emphasizing that both FIA and Customs will undergo important changes.
On the issue of illegal migration, Naqvi recognized the continuous challenge of people trying to travel to Europe and other continents through illegal routes, such as boat accidents. “We are taking strict measures in immigration counters to avoid such illegal activities,” he said.
The Interior Minister also stressed that regions such as Gujarat and the Faisalabad division had seen a significant increase in attempts to travel illegally. As a result, changes in FIA will be implemented to combat these problems more effectively.
While Naqvi expressed his support for the Pakistani who traveled legally abroad, said that those involved in illegal immigration or the immersion of the country’s reputation would face serious consequences. Although he could not guarantee the complete eradication of the agent’s mafia, he said that a comprehensive strategy has been designed to launch an important repression soon.
Naqvi also spoke about his recent visit to the United States, expressing his confidence that the positive results of the visit would soon be evident when highlighting the strong relations between Pakistani and American governments, mentioning productive meetings with American congressmen and senators, which, which It will carry fruit in the future.
