Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed says an SMS service is being launchedto inform people six months prior to the expiry of their passports.
Talking to media in Islamabad on Thursday, he said the government alsoplans to launch new e-passport service on April 28 next year.
The Minister said the Pakistanis aspiring to go to the Middle East will beissued passport for ten years.
He said home delivery of passports is being started in Islamabad andRawalpindi.
The Minister said the process of visa issuance to the Chinese nationalsworking on CPEC projects will be made further easy.
Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said he has directed to shorten the ECL and theblacklist as there are one hundred thousand people on the blacklist.
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He said only those elements involved in criminal and anti-state activitiesshould be kept in the list.
The Minister said he has given ultimatum of one week to the people sellingsmuggled petrol and diesel. He said if they do not stop this practice, theministry will take action against them.
Sheikh Rashid Ahmed expressed commitment to improve financial position ofthe Directorate of Immigration and Passport.
To a question, the Minister said he does not think that the PDM will tenderresignations en bloc.
