Interior Ministry has announced the manual extension of expired passports and Computerised National Identity Cards (CNICs) as the concerned institutions have halted operations due to coronavirus pandemic. The government in Pakistan is dealing with COVID-19 challenge in a calculated way. “We have to fight against Corona as well as economic crisis,” said Asad Umer, a senior leader of the ruling party and a federal minister.
#COVIDー19: Pakistan extends validity of expired passport and ID cards until June 30. Overseas Pakistanis can extend expired passports for one year at the diplomatic missions
— Ijaz Malik (@Ijazmalik101) April 16, 2020
Pakistan has more than 6,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 107 deaths from the disease, according to Johns Hopkins University data. At least 1,424 patients have recovered.
Pakistan imposed varying levels of restrictions across the country late last month, with provincial governments dictating regulations on which businesses were allowed to remain open.
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The interior ministry released a notification regarding the extension for the validity of Machine Readable Passports (MRPs) and Computerized National Identity Cards (CNICs) till June 30.
The concerned authorities have been directed to entertain nationals in the country and abroad for processing the manual extension of passports and CNICs up to June 30 until further orders, as National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has discontinued renewal of CNICs.
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It also stated that the expired passports will be extended manually for a further period of one year against the fee payment of Rs.1,000, whereas, Rs.800 will be charged for the manual endorsement of records regarding newborn babies in MRPs of parents.
Repatriation of Pakistani prisoners
The ministry has also notified procedure for the verification of Pakistani prisoners to be repatriated from Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), through special flights.
According to the notification, the concerned authorities will verify the nationality and passports of prisoners to be deported to Pakistan. It added, “After due verification of nationality, CNIC and Passport, Estimated Time of Departure (ETD) will be issued to be deported to Pakistan.”
Moreover, the concerned mission will fill the application form of the individual for onward transmission to the Ministry of Interior through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs immediately as per the procedure.
Read More: Coronavirus outbreak: Is Punjab government going to extend the lockdown?
Interior Ministry apprised the foreign ministry, Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) NADRA and IMPASS regarding the procedures for the repatriation of Pakistani prisoners from the foreign country.
It is important to note that Special Assistant to the Prime Minister of Pakistan on National Security Division and Strategic Policy Planning, Moeed Yusuf, has said that the government wanted to lift stranded Pakistanis across the world in a safe manner. “Self-isolation for the Pakistanis coming back from other countries is mandatory”, Moeed Yusuf said while talking to a private TV channel. He said the government of Pakistan is trying to lift 6 to 7 thousand stranded Pakistanis every week, while strict monitoring of the operation is being conducted.
The government is expected to bring stranded Pakistanis soon back to the country.