The Interior Minister Ch. Nisar Ali Khan in meeting today asked for strict implementation of rules and regulations both in the Ministry and its attached departments.
Indifference to this responsibility or lackluster approach in addressing the problems of the people will invite serious notice and action, said the Minister.
The Minister was chairing a high-level meeting here on Monday also attended by secretary Interior, chairman NADRA, advocate general, chief commissioner ICT, Acting IG Islamabad and senior officers of FIA and Ministry of Interior.
Noting that a lot of good work has been done in the issuance of visas and areas of immigration, he said that a lot more still needs to be done to streamline the system and remove various lacunas in the system.
The Minister ordered immediate suspension of visas on arrival under the guise of Landing Permits and said that this laxity cannot be allowed in this manner as it can give rise to serious irregularities.
The Interior Minister also ordered Interior Ministry to revise and update visa rules besides introduction of online visa regime so as to bring in transparency, minimize discretion and expedite the entire process.
With the launching of the online visa application and online visa regime, the Interior Minister said that any anomaly in issuance of visas would be effectively eliminated.
He said that central visa database is essential as it would enable Pakistani state institutions to keep a tab on all those travelling to Pakistan on any visa category.
To ensure strict surveillance of Pakistan’s land, sea and air route entry exit points on borders the Interior Minister ordered speedy completion of the concept paper for the modern Immigration and Border Control Department.
The Minister observed that as first step, a separate body of Immigration & Border Management should be set up under the Federal Investigation Agency.
He said that modern immigration department would strengthen border control management of the country which is currently managed by the Federal Investigation Agency.
FIA officials also gave a detailed briefing to the Interior Minister over the recoveries in various cases including human trafficking cases and the recoveries made from various petroleum marketing companies in lieu of petroleum levy.
It was informed that FIA has recovered 2.513 billion in various cases in year 2016. An amount of 2.13 billion has also been recovered and deposited in the national treasury in the inquiry into recovery of Petroleum levy.
It is pertinent to mention that recoveries by FIA in 2010 were 528 million rupees, 690 million in 2011 and 110 million in 2012. The recoveries by FIA during the present government stand at 2.23 billion in 2013, 2.27 billion in 2014, 6.39 billion in 2015.
As a result of proactive approach under the directions of the Interior Minister vast improved has been witnessed in the overall performance of FIA.
For the first time in the history of Pakistan, the foreign airlines were fined for violation of visa policy and were asked to take back the passengers without visa back to the port of their embarkation on their own cost.
It was informed that a fine to the tune of 09 crore forty lac was imposed on various foreign airlines for bringing in passengers without valid Pakistani visas and such airlines were directed to take back hundred of such passengers.
On the issue of action against individuals involved in blasphemous content on social media, the Interior Minister reiterated that blasphemous and terrorism related content on the social media were both intolerable for the state of Pakistan and directed that legal assistance of the respective countries should also be solicited against those who are promoting or funding such an ill-activity from abroad.
The Interior Minister also directed FIA to continue working with PTA for removing all those social media pages which could cause religious unrest in the society or glorifying terrorism or terrorists on the internet.
ICT administration gave a detailed briefing on various steps taken for enhanced security of the capital including that of shrines and various entry and exit points of the capital city.
The Minister directed ICT administration to ensure establishment of two free lanes meant for smooth entry and exit of the commuters travelling between the twin cities. Free lanes would help the citizens using RFID technology to enter the capital without any hassle.
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