Salik raises issue of blocked passports with interior ministry

ISLAMABAD:

Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development Minister Chaudhry Salik Hussain has raised the issue of passport blockages for overseas Pakistanis with the interior ministry.

In a letter to the Ministry for Interior, Hussain emphasized that this is a sensitive matter that requires immediate investigation. He stated, “Overseas Pakistanis are our assets, and they should not be harassed.”

The minister expressed his commitment to ensuring that overseas Pakistanis are treated fairly, announcing the establishment of facilitation desks to support them.

Hussain’s intervention follows a letter from the office bearers of the Pakistan Business Forum France, who complained about the passport blockade. The forum highlighted that staff at Pakistani airports were extorting bribes of up to Rs500,000, forcing travelers to pay in exchange for expedited processing of documents, which they claimed could otherwise lead to missed flights.

The Pakistan Business Forum France requested the minister to restore the confidence of overseas Pakistanis, who were concerned about the situation.