Online Visa available in 191 countries: Sheikh Rasheed

Islamabad: Minister for Interior Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed on Wednesday said the e-passport facility has been introduced on the directives of Prime Minister Imran Khan adding that online visa was available in 191 countries and currently no visa case was pending with the interior ministry.

Speaking at the launching of the E-Passport ceremony here, the minister said corruption has totally been eliminated in the visa process as earlier Rs 100,000 to Rs 150,000 per visa bribe was being taken.

He said the process of acquiring a visa has been made easy and online and people could get online visas in 191 countries. As many as 88 new NADRA offices were opened in various parts of the country and every Tehsil headquarters has NADRA office, he said.

He said ladies' staff was recruited in NADRA offices of erstwhile FATA areas and Balochistan to facilitate the women of far-flung areas.

He said the validity of the passport has also been extended from 5 to 10 years to facilitate overseas Pakistani on the same old fee on the directives of the PM. NADRA has started issuing succession certificates across the country and its credit also goes to PM, he added.

The minister said drone service has also been launched in Islamabad which helped foil several terrorist activities. He said some 300 new parks have been established and renovated in the federal capital under the PM’s green and clean Pakistan Vision. Women Bazaars have been set up in the Capital to empower womenfolk, he added.

Sheikh Rasheed said the popularity of Imran Khan has immensely increased and the entire nation was with the PM. Coming hard on the Sharif family, he said the Sharif family remained involved in minting money from Saddam Hussain, Col Gaddafi and Osama Bin Laden. Nawaz Sharif personally appeared before the Apex Court in Memo-gate scandal, he added.

He said it was Nawaz Sharif who provided Fareed Kot address of Ajmal Kasab to India.

Earlier, Director General Immigration Islam Zeb briefed the participants about the feature of the e-Passport. The e-Passport has 29 latest new security features and an electronic Chip has been used in it, he added.

He said e-Passport holders would take the benefit of e-gate facilities at all airports around the world.