• Interior minister’s surprise visit to DHA Nadra centre exposes irregularities
• Takes notice of delays, long queues; asks staff to ensure people don’t have to visit more than once
• Inspects immigration counters in a visit to Karachi airport
• Declares professional beggars can’t be permitted to go abroad
KARACHI: In a surprise visit to a Mega Centre of the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) in Defence Housing Authority on Saturday, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi found multiple lapses of serious nature in public service delivery, including a startling case in which a death certificate was issued for a woman who was still alive.
The issue came to light when a citizen approached the interior minister during his visit to the facility with a complaint regarding his wife’s death certificate, who was in fact alive.
A statement issued after the visit said that Mr Naqvi immediately took notice of the “error” and ordered on-the-spot correction of the documentation, directing officials to ensure accountability and prevent such mistakes in the future.
During the visit, the minister interacted with citizens who had come to apply for national identity cards and other official documents. He asked applicants about waiting times and processing procedures with several people complaining of long delays and repeated visits due to inadequate guidance and system inefficiencies, the statement added.
The interior minister acknowledged the concerns and assured citizens that the problem of delays would be addressed on a permanent basis.
“The system is being further improved and the issue of delays will be resolved at the root,” the statement quoted the minister as saying who also instructed Nadra officials to complete citizens’ work within the prescribed timeframe.
In another case, a woman reported an incorrect name entry on her identity card. The interior minister directed the Nadra in-charge to rectify the error immediately without charging any additional fee.
He also visited multiple service counters and met staff members, emphasising that applicants should not be forced to make repeated trips.
“Instead of asking people to come back again and again, ensure their work is completed in a single visit wherever possible and provide them full guidance,” Mr Naqvi directed.
Earlier in the day, the interior minister paid a two-hour-long visit to Jinnah International Airport to review immigration operations.
He inspected immigration counters, met outbound passengers and inquired about processing times and facilitation, added the statement.
Mr Naqvi personally checked the travel documents of several passengers traveling to Saudi Arabia and asked Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) officials to verify certain cases.
The interior minister reiterated that no passenger with incomplete or unverified documents would be allowed to travel.
He warned that professional beggars could not be permitted to go abroad under the cover of legitimate travellers, stressing that Pakistan’s dignity must be protected at all costs.
“The genuine travellers and passengers with valid and complete documentation would not be stopped. Raising Pakistan’s stature while ensuring ease for travellers remains our top priority,” he added.
Published in Dawn, February 1st, 2026
