The government has taken the decision to keep at least one passport office operational 24/7 in both Karachi and Lahore.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi made this announcement on Sunday, emphasizing the convenience and ease it will provide to citizens seeking passport services.
Starting from May 7, 2024, the Regional Passport Office in Karachi’s Awami Markaz Sharea Faisal and the Regional Passport Office in Lahore’s Garden Town will be accessible round the clock.
The security czar shared this development via a post on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter). According to him, having a 24/7 passport office will simplify the process for people needing passport services at any time of day.
It’s worth noting that the interior minister recently suspended passport officials due to an increase in complaints related to bribery and corruption within passport offices.
Additionally, last month, the passport authorities faced a shortage of lamination sheets—special papers with security features used in passports—which caused delays in issuing travel documents. These lamination sheets are imported from Germany, and thousands of people apply for passports daily.
