Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi ordered the removal of the entire staff at a regional passport office in Gujranwala after finding the facility closed before official working hours.
Naqvi made an unannounced visit to the office and found its doors locked at around 4pm. The office should remain open until 4:30pm. Citizens seeking passport services were reportedly unable to enter the building.
Cleaning staff were also working inside when the minister arrived. The situation suggested that the office had begun closing before the scheduled end of the working day.
Naqvi questions passport office staff
The interior minister expressed anger over the early closure. He questioned why officials had locked the office when citizens could still expect service.
Naqvi also asked about the absence of employees and the treatment of people who had come to obtain or collect passports. He stressed that public offices must provide services throughout their announced working hours.
Only one staff member remained at the office during the minister’s visit, according to the Interior Ministry. The employee could not adequately explain why the facility had closed early.
Disciplinary action ordered
Following the inspection, Naqvi ordered authorities to remove the entire passport office staff from their current positions. He also instructed officials to take disciplinary action over negligence in carrying out their duties.
The minister warned that authorities would not tolerate negligence in public service delivery. He stressed that citizens should receive government services without unnecessary delays or inconvenience.
The Gujranwala action comes as the Interior Ministry continues to face pressure to improve passport services across Pakistan. Officials have previously faced criticism over delays, absenteeism and poor service at passport offices.
Naqvi has also taken action during earlier inspections of passport facilities. In a separate Lahore visit, he ordered officials removed after finding vacant counters and hearing complaints from citizens about long delays.
The latest action in Gujranwala reinforces the government’s message that passport officials must follow working hours and remain available to the public.
