Passport issuance to be made hassle-free
Sunday, 1 July 2007
FE Report
The interim government has decided to simplify the process of issuance and renewal of passports, making the existing rules and procedures easier.
It is also considering options for extending the validity period of passports up to 10 years from the existing 5 years and entrusting a recognised bank or a private organisation or an agency with the responsibility of issuance, addition and renewal of passports.
The council of advisers at its weekly meeting held Saturday asked the Ministry of Home Affairs to submit a comprehensive proposal on the simplification of existing rules and formalities regarding issuance and renewal of passports before the advisers' council, an official handout said.
Chaired by the Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed, the meeting also directed the ministry to examine whether the validity of passport could be extended up to 10 years and whether the responsibilities of issuance, addition and renewal of passport given to any established bank or private organisation or an agency.
The council also advised the ministry to review the passport forms, attestation, fee and other related matters in order to simplify both the issuance and renewal process of passports.
The council also asked the authorities to ensure that the urgent passports are delivered in time.
The meeting was informed that 15 offices in the country along with 57 foreign missions abroad issue and renew about 100,000 passports a month.
Advisers of the caretaker government, Cabinet Secretary, Press Secretary to the Chief Adviser and other senior government officials attended the meeting, which was held at the Chief Adviser's Office in the city, said the handout.
Meanwhile, the caretaker government has initiated such move following the allegations that many people often face immense difficulties for getting passports due to an unholy nexus of middlemen and a section of dishonest officials concerned, sources said.
The interim government has decided to simplify the process of issuance and renewal of passports, making the existing rules and procedures easier.
It is also considering options for extending the validity period of passports up to 10 years from the existing 5 years and entrusting a recognised bank or a private organisation or an agency with the responsibility of issuance, addition and renewal of passports.
The council of advisers at its weekly meeting held Saturday asked the Ministry of Home Affairs to submit a comprehensive proposal on the simplification of existing rules and formalities regarding issuance and renewal of passports before the advisers' council, an official handout said.
Chaired by the Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed, the meeting also directed the ministry to examine whether the validity of passport could be extended up to 10 years and whether the responsibilities of issuance, addition and renewal of passport given to any established bank or private organisation or an agency.
The council also advised the ministry to review the passport forms, attestation, fee and other related matters in order to simplify both the issuance and renewal process of passports.
The council also asked the authorities to ensure that the urgent passports are delivered in time.
The meeting was informed that 15 offices in the country along with 57 foreign missions abroad issue and renew about 100,000 passports a month.
Advisers of the caretaker government, Cabinet Secretary, Press Secretary to the Chief Adviser and other senior government officials attended the meeting, which was held at the Chief Adviser's Office in the city, said the handout.
Meanwhile, the caretaker government has initiated such move following the allegations that many people often face immense difficulties for getting passports due to an unholy nexus of middlemen and a section of dishonest officials concerned, sources said.