Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has taken action against two officials following a surprise inspection of the Passport Office in Lahore’s Garden Town, where he expressed serious displeasure over poor arrangements, staff shortages, and long delays faced by citizens.
During his visit on Wednesday, Naqvi observed lengthy queues of passport applicants waiting for their turn. Several counters were reportedly operating without staff, creating further delays for people who had arrived to complete their passport-related procedures.
Citizens at the office complained about spending several hours waiting for their applications to be processed. Some applicants said they had reached the passport office early in the morning but were still waiting for their turn when the minister arrived.
The situation prompted the interior minister to take immediate notice of the administrative shortcomings. Naqvi expressed concern over the difficulties being faced by ordinary citizens and directed action against two officials following the inspection.
The surprise visit highlights growing attention toward the quality of public services provided at government offices. Passport offices handle a large number of applicants every day, making efficient staffing, organized queues, and timely processing essential for reducing public inconvenience.
For citizens, delays at passport offices can create significant problems, particularly for those who need travel documents for employment, education, business, family visits, or international travel. Long waiting times can also become more difficult for elderly applicants and people traveling from distant areas.
The minister’s inspection also underlines the importance of ensuring that designated counters remain operational during working hours. Adequate staffing can help distribute applicants more efficiently and reduce pressure on individual counters.
The action against the two officials indicates that the government is taking administrative performance at passport offices seriously. Surprise inspections can also help identify problems that may not be immediately visible through routine reporting systems.
The Lahore Garden Town Passport Office is among the public-facing facilities where citizens expect timely and organized services. Complaints about long queues and insufficient staffing can affect public confidence if they remain unresolved.
The latest development is therefore significant not only for the officials involved but also for citizens seeking improvements in passport services. Effective implementation of administrative directives will be important to ensure that similar problems are addressed across other passport offices.
The Interior Ministry’s focus on improving public service delivery could help reduce waiting times and make passport-related procedures more convenient for applicants. Citizens will likely be watching whether the measures taken after the inspection lead to lasting improvements at the facility.
For now, the removal of two officials following the surprise visit sends a clear message that poor arrangements, staff shortages, and unnecessary delays at public offices can attract direct administrative action.
