Issuance of E-passports to start in June: Sheikh Rasheed

15

KARACHI, Apr 09 (APP):Federal Minister for Interior Sheikh Rasheed
Ahmed Friday said that process of issuance of E-Passports in the country
would commence from June, and a German company had been awarded the
contract for the purpose.
He said that validity of passport expiry had been increased to 10 years
and its fee had also been reduced to half, he said while addressing a
news conference at the Zonal office of Federal Investigation Agency
(FIA) Sindh.
The Minister said that the FIA and National Accountability Bureau (NAB)
had taken stern actions against many mafias including money launderers
and sugar mafia. As many as 10 accused were arrested by the FIA and 31
sugar mills were issued legal notices while 57 accounts including 19
‘Benami’ accounts (unrevealed third party accounts) were seized in sugar
scam.
The FIA officers who had been enjoying the same positions for years
would be replaced in Ramadan, he said.
Sheikh Rasheed said that entire visa process had been made online and
about 300,000 visas had been issued while only 12000 visas applications
were rejected during his tenure as Interior Minister. Citizens of 192
countries could get Pakistani visa within 30 days time linked with the
clearance from any relevant agency of the country.
He said that national economy was flourishing and strengthening as the
dollar price had reduced to lowest level in 22 months. The Ramadan
package would be announced within couple of days to provide relief to
the underprivileged segment of the society. Prime Minister Imran Khan
was committed to control the inflation. Imran Khan also performed the
ground-breaking of the low-cost housing units in the capital’s Farash
Town the other day.
To a query, Sheikh Rasheed replied that opposition was not a challenge
for premier Imran Khan but the real challenge for him was to control the
inflation.
To another question, he said that courts were working independently in
tenure of incumbent government and provision of justice was being ensured.
The Minister said “I don’t see any conspiracy succeeding against Imran
Khan. Imran Khan will complete his five year constitutional tenure.”
PPP had positive approach while PML-N was creating problems for itself
due to its narrative, he said.
On a query about Nawaz Sharif’s passport Sheikh Rasheed said that if
Nawaz Sharif express any intention to return to the country, the
Interior Ministry would issue him travel documents within 24 hours.
The Interior Minister concluded that Pakistan enjoyed congenial
diplomatic relations with US, China and Afghanistan. Pakistan was
playing key role in Afghan peace process.