Interior Minister says blue passports will be issued to entitled persons only. PHOTO FILE
The minister issued the order during a meeting with higher officials from various government agencies and police in Islamabad, according to an official release on Saturday.
During the meeting, the Director General Immigration and Passports briefed Nisar on the performance and initiatives launched by his directorate.
Nisar categorically stated that blue passports will be issued to entitled persons only, and there will be no relaxation of rules in this regard.
The DG further remarked that a computerised check has been placed on the process of issuing blue passports to prevent its misuse in the future.
Security in Islamabad
The Chief Commissioner of Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) administration informed the meeting about the campaign against adulteration in drugs, revealing that licenses of six drug stores have been suspended so far, with one license cancelled and two drug stores sealed as per the directives of the minister.
The Traffic Police informed the Minister that Islamabad Police has not hesitated to hand traffic violation tickets to VIPs, including MNAs, MPAs, provincial ministers, civil and military officers and officials from the judicial service.
Nisar ordered that all criminal and corrupt officials within the Federal Investigation Authority (FIA), Islamabad Police and Islamabad Administration be weeded out, all slums and encroachments be registered and a police operation carried out in these areas to cleanse it of criminal elements.
He further instructed FIA to draft a plan of action for NAB to deal with human trafficking and illegal immigration on an emergency basis.
NADRA reissuing CNICs in Awaran
National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) chairman also presented a report on his recent visit to the earthquake hit areas of Awaran.
He said that NADRA had deployed mobile vehicles in the area to re-issuing CNICs to those who had lost their identity documents.
He added that the authority was also conducting a door-to-door damage assessment in the affected areas.
Nisar was also briefed about the installation of e-tag service between Islamabad and Rawalpindi.
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Why don't we just do away with the "blue Passport". Even the President and the Prime Minister should be proud of their GREEN passport. If we, ourselves don't respect the GREEN, how can it get respect abroad.
ET, its the number of Passports to be void which is 2002 passports! Not 'Issued' in year 2002.
The news item makes no sense, raises too many questions and answers none. ET time to wake up. Get your act together. What A WASTE OF TIME.
Expired passports (non MRPs) can be renewed by an endorsement by relevant ministry. That has always been the case. What needs to be asked is who issued these official passports to "non-official people" ?
@Hassan Ali: I have to give this to you. Rarely find a gem that is more loyal than the king. There is no extension of the expired passports. And the new passports are issued by nadra. If you doubt that process, then basically you are casting doubts over the entire system. As for the blue passports, they need government approval. If you stop issuing new blue passports to your family members and crown princes, the problem is solved whether or not a blue passport was issued in 2002 or not.
Passports issued in 2002 would have expired, but will be renewed without issue. He means that passport sanctioned in 2002 without scrutiny would be re checked. Kindly get out of trivial things & be more constructive in your criticism. The DG passports would surely know that 02 passports have expired yet he gave the presentation.
And will Minister Nisar go about doing this? Any ideas? A passport, once issued, can not be clawed back unless the passport holder is in the minister's jurisdiction.
What is he going to do about the green passport? Currently it ranks fairly low in the list of countries where visa free travel is allowed? I mean being one of the most powerful nations in the world militarily, it is quite a shame at the treatment meted out to Pakistanis in different countries of the world. Why do you take a stand, and get some respect for the green.
So illegal passports issued over a decade ago are now finally going to be considered "illegal" and void -- you have got to be kidding? How about tracking down the holders of these passports and tossing them in jail?
This dude is doing everything except his job. May I remind him that passports are valid for 5 years only. Any passport issued in 2002 has expired anyways. Please don't waste your time on trivial things and do something about terrorism.
Passports are generally issued for a period of 5 years and any passport issued in the year 2002 would have stand expired/cancelled.
ET can you ask the Federal Minister of Interior Ch. Nisar as to which passports he is referring to?
As far as Blue Passports are concerned these were reported and were issued during the term of PPP i.e. between the period from February 10, 2008 until May 10, 2013 by some elements who were know to the passport holders.
It has also been reported in a section of press that Blue Passports were issued to drivers and cleaners and the holders of these passports were stopped and questioned at the Airports.
As far as the Machine Readable Passports are concerned, they seems to be alright, as these passports are issued by the Directorate General of Immigration and Passports after verification.
It seems that this particular news items needs a detail clarification, either by Federal Minister of Interior or by the official spokesperson of Federal Ministry of Interior.