KARACHI - Federal Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said Sunday that NADRA and Passport Offices would be opened in each Tehsil to facilitate the common people in the country.
He expressed such views while addressing a press conference at a local hotel on Sunday. The validity of passport expiry had been increased to 10 years and its fee had also been reduced to half, he recounted, adding that process of issuance of E-Passports in the country would commence from June.
“We are going to bring reforms in the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA)”, the minister said, adding the FIA officers who had been enjoying the same positions for years would be replaced. The minister said that the government was taking stern actions against many mafias including money launderers and sugar mafia.
The entire visa process had been made online and about 300,000 visas were issued while only 12,000 visas applications were rejected, he informed, articulating that citizens of 192 countries could get Pakistani visa within 30 days time linked with the clearance from any relevant agency of the country.
The national economy was strengthening as the dollar price had reduced to lowest level, the federal minister said, adding that Ramazan package was announced to provide relief to the underprivileged segment of the society.
“No talks would be held with India until India reinstates Article 370 of its constitution which guaranteed a semi-autonomous status for Indian Occupied Kashmir,” the minister said.
Commenting on the Daska elections’ results, Sh Rashid termed it as a victory of the democracy, adding that the number of votes gained by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)’s candidate Asjad Malhi demonstrates that the narrative of PM Imran Khan is still popular among the masses. “We have won even after losing the polls as Malhi bagged more votes as compared to the past,” he claimed. “The peaceful conduct of the Daska by-election should be appreciated.”
The 42 percent of the fencing work along the Pak-Iran border has been completed while the fencing along Pak-Afghan border will be completed by June, this year, he added.
Replying to a question, the minister said that opposition was not a challenge for premier Imran Khan but the real challenge for him was to control the inflation, reaffirming that the Prime Minister Imran Khan is fighting the mafias in the country to ensure the provision of relief to the general public. Prime Minister Imran Khan was committed to control the inflation.
To another question, he replied that Broadsheet inquiry commission has recommended reopening the Swiss cases, Sheikh Rashid said, adding the past government gave away $60 million in the Swiss cases.
Besides, the government would take all the measure to control the inflation and will not allow anyone to loot the poor during the Razmzan, Sh Rashid added.
He informed media persons that Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Accountability and Interior Shahzad Akbar was looking after the matters relating to sugar, wheat and other things, adding that a campaign against him (Shahzad Akbar) is being run.
Appreciating the role Rangers in maintaining law and order, he said that the credits went to Rangers for maintaining law and order situation during Daska elections, adding that the Army had always played a vital role in maintaining law and order situation in the country and for that they had sacrificed their lives.
Rashid also said The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz attitude towards Pakistan Peoples’ Party just like a servant as PML-N had tried to insult PPP by issuing show-cause notice. Talking to a private news channel, he said PML-N had been using indecent and derogatory language against the national institutions.
The minister said the opposition had no capacity to topple the present government, adding the Pakistan Democratic Movement was disintegrated as differences among the opposition parties had been completely exposed.
Sheikh Rashid said it was good luck of the present government that it had such type of opposition.
Replying to a question about Daska election, he said democracy won in the NA-75 bye-election, adding the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) candidate had gained more votes as compared to past. Prime Minister Imran Khan was still popular political leader among the people of the country, he added. He said PML-N had shrunk in one province and real contest would be held between PTI and PML-N in Punjab during the next general elections.
