On Thursday, Chief Minister of Balochistan Mir Sarfaraz Bugti declared that citizens will be issued free passports.
During the launch of the computerized arms license system in Quetta, he stated that the provincial government had reached an agreement with the passport office to streamline this process for the public.
CM Bugti stated, “The government will cover the cost of passports for the citizens.” He also said that the government will finance the Rs 16,000 fee for Chaman residents to receive free digital passports through the one-document system.
CM Bugti stated that technology is advancing the government’s efforts towards effective governance. He added that the digital arms license system will be rolled out across Balochistan.
Earlier, the issue of delays in issuing Pakistani passports was raised in the National Assembly. In response to a call attention notice from Pakistan People’s Party’s Aga Rafiullah, Minister for Law and Justice Azam Nazir Tarar stated that the government is working to expedite the passport issuance process.
He noted that daily demand for passports has surged to 44,000, while only 25,000 to 26,000 passports are being processed daily in Pakistan. “With the software update, the number of passports issued daily is expected to reach 60,000 by September,” Tarar said.
He acknowledged the ‘extraordinary’ delays and assured that the issue raised by the member would be addressed.
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