If you’re a Pakistani, you can extend passport validity to 10 years on same fee

Exit Control List should be brought down to 25,000, says interior minister

ISLAMABAD:

The government has decided to extend the validity of passports for labourers to 10 years without additional charges in move that would facilitate the Pakistani diaspora abroad, especially in the Middle Eastern countries.

Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed clarified that the decision would not be applicable on ‘official and red’ passports as the facility was only meant for the labour class.

“The new passport will be issued at the previous fee of Rs3,000 and this decision will be implemented from January 1,” he said while speaking to the media after visiting the office of Directorate General of Immigration and Passport on Thursday.

“It is a gift from Prime Minister Imran Khan to all the Pakistani labour community, especially in the Middle East,” he added.

The minister said a new e-passport would be launched from April 28 next year which would help maintain data on modern lines and improve the country’s image abroad. He added that an express service was being introduced across the country for home delivery of passports.

“The facility has been activated in Islamabad and will soon be available in Rawalpindi,” he said. “An SMS service has also been started today (Thursday) with the basic aim of informing the passport holders six months before expiry of their passports,” he added.

According to the minister, the ‘e-service’ is being initiated in 191 countries from January 1. Rashid said 64 officers of the Passport and Immigration Department were overstaying in different countries, adding they all would be called back and new officers would be posted there at the earliest.

Petrol smuggling

Rashid said a one-week ultimatum had been given to those involved in sale and purchase of smuggled petroleum products in the country to end their illegal activities. “On the expiry of the ultimatum, punitive action will be taken against them,” he added.

Responding to a question, the minister said the visa process for the Chinese engineers, working on different projects of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), would be eased further.

Responding to another question, he said necessary directives had been issued for a review of the existing Exit Control List (ECL). He said that 66,000 people were on the FIA “black list” and 44,000 on the passport department’s list.

Rashid had been made in-charge of a committee looking into the ECL-related matters. Only such persons should be put on the ECL who have criminal records or who are found involved in anti-state activities, he said. “The ECL should be brought down to 25,000.”

Asked about the list of 20 politicians facing life threats from terrorists, the interior minister said Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) President Maulana Fazlur Rehman was on top of the list.

He dispelled the impression of withdrawing security for any of these politicians. “Maulana Fazl is using the PDM platform to create anarchy in the country for personal gains,” he added.

(WITH INPUT FROM APP)