Afridi visits passport office, urges for resolving peoples' problems

ISLAMABAD, Sep 13 (APP):State Minister for Interior, Shehryar Khan Afridi Thursday paid a surprise visit to the Passport Headquarters here and inquired from people about the problems they were facing.

According to a press statement issued here, the minister directed the management of the Passport Office to resolve those problems at the earliest.

He directed Director General Passport to visit passport offices of Islamabad and Rawalpindi every week and said that media should also be given access to passport headquarters.

Meanwhile, the minister also inspected the illegal construction at a commercial hub in the capital city and gave 24 hours' ultimatum to the owners to remove their illegal construction by themselves.

He said that if the owners failed to take action, the illegal structures would be demolished. The minister also warned the Centaurus Mall administration to wind up the site office within 24 hours.

Govt to ensure FIA's capacity building to improve its performance: Shehryar Afridi

ISLAMABAD, Sep 11 (APP):Minister of State for Interior Shehryar Afridi Tuesday vowed to ensure capacity building of the Federal Investigation Agency's (FIA) officers and officials to improve its performance.

The Agency, dedicated to deal with cases relating to corruption, human trafficking, smuggling, economic and cyber crime etc, he said,would be equipped with modern and innovative technologies.

"If we want to run the FIA effectively we need to equip it as per modern requirements and make its a force skillful and trained," he said this while addressing a meet-the-press here.

The minister during his interaction with media persons replied questions relating to national security, civil-military ties, passport offices, National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA), a visit to Quetta and Taftan, Balochistan and on-going operation against encroachment in the Federal Capital.

He said social media, which was flourishing in the country with each passing day, would also be handled in a professional manner and the Cyber Wing of FIA would be further strengthened to have a check on it.

Similarly, performance of NADRA and passport offices would be improved, he said and added that a web portal was being developed in the Ministry of Interior to monitor their working. 

"Assisted by Secretary and Additional Secretary level officers, I will personally check the portal to get complaints of the people addressed," Shehryar Afridi said.

"We are well aware of the issues. But I will take decisions after having orientations from all the relevant departments of Ministry of Interior," he added.

The minister said, "No more joke with the state and no compromise on Pakistan. We are giving a clear direction in 100 days and for the purpose our government under the able leadership of Prime Minister Imran Khan has constituted task forces."

To a question about the ongoing anti-encroachment drive, he said illegal structures would be demolished. During the operation around 31 illegal structures had been razed. 

He said the provision of foolproof security and all required  facilities to the people, set to visit sacred places in foreign countries, was being accorded priority amid practical efforts and collective approach.

The minister, who visited Quetta, Taftan and other cities of Balochistan the other day to discuss security of pilgrims (Zaireen), especially during Muharram, said on the special directives of Prime Minister Imran Khan, the Federal Government would take solid measures for the provision of all possible resources to facilitate the pilgrims.

Shehryar Afridi said during his visit to Balochistan, he also paid a short visit to Pak-Iran border city Taftan and asked the local authorities to facilitate pilgrims and ensure that they do not face any problems or difficulties, in accordance to their travelling schedules.

He said he also inspected the immigration process, so that the problems of the pilgrims could be solved in a proper way. The number of immigration desks at Taftan would also be increased to 20 to facilitate the pilgrims, he added.

He said developing Balochistan meant development of Pakistan and the present Federal Government had realized the issues of province and started work on their redressal.

"We will ensure complete support to the provincial government to end deprivation and redressal of the problems of people," he said.

On the occasion, Fateha was also offered for the departed soul of Begum Kulsoom Nawaz.