Islamabad (National Times) Taking notice of the delay in issuing passports to overseas Pakistanis, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Sunday directed to expedite the service for timely issuance of the document to them.

Speaking during his visit to Nadra and passport centres in London, the interior minister directed officials to issue urgent passports to overseas Pakistanis within seven days and normal passports within 30 days.

“This policy will be applicable to all Pakistani missions abroad,” he said as normal passports were being issued in about four months while urgent in one and a half months.

Naqvi said delay would not be tolerated anymore and action would be taken against non-issuance of passport within the stipulated time.

He also established a monitoring cell and appointed his Personal Staff Officer ASP Shahrbano as its head “to ensure delivery of passports within the time”.

Overseas Pakistanis will be able to lodge a complaint at the email address: passport@interior.gov.pk if they do not receive their passport within time, Radio Pakistan reported.

During the visit, the interior minister interacted with the Pakistanis present at the centres as well.

He appreciated the Nadra staff as no one complained about their service. He congratulated them for their good performance.

Taking notice of the staff shortage, the minister directed effective staff management to fulfil the staff requirement.

On this occasion, Pakistan’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom Dr Muhammad Faisal was accompanying the interior minister.