Interior minister removes senior official after finding vacant counters, absent staff and citizens waiting for hours in Garden Town
LAHORE: Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi ordered disciplinary action against officials at the Garden Town Passport Office after a surprise visit exposed long queues, staff absences and complaints of hours-long delays.
During the inspection, Naqvi found several counters vacant while staff members remained absent from their assigned positions. Citizens gathered around the minister and complained about poor service and prolonged waiting times.
Several applicants said they had arrived in the morning but remained unattended even after four hours.
Moreover, citizens alleged that agents operating outside the passport office demanded payments in exchange for faster processing. One applicant told Naqvi that he had paid Rs5,500 to an agent.
Senior Official Removed Over Mismanagement
Meanwhile, an elderly citizen complained that officials had promised to deliver his passport that day but later informed him that authorities had not yet printed it.
Naqvi expressed strong displeasure over the conditions and ordered the removal of Passport Office In-charge and Deputy Director Shehzad Aslam over alleged negligence and mismanagement.
Furthermore, the interior minister directed authorities to remove the deputy director of the Federal Investigation Agency’s Anti-Corruption unit in Lahore following complaints about an alleged agent network operating outside the facility.
Naqvi instructed officials to investigate and address the complaints immediately.
Minister Apologises to Waiting Citizens
The interior minister personally apologised to applicants for the inconvenience and described conditions at the passport office as unacceptable.
He said authorities would not compromise on providing efficient and timely passport services to citizens.
Additionally, Naqvi warned that the government would take disciplinary action without discrimination against officials who neglected their responsibilities or failed to provide adequate public services.
He stressed that government institutions must facilitate citizens rather than create unnecessary obstacles.
Providing efficient services, Naqvi said, remains both the government’s responsibility and its duty, while officials must ensure applicants receive timely assistance at passport offices.
