Interior Minister of Pakistan, Mohsin Naqvi, has ordered the removal of the entire staff at a regional passport office in Gujranwala, Punjab, after finding the facility closed before its official working hours during an unannounced visit.
The interior minister arrived at the office to find its doors locked, with citizens reportedly being turned away. Cleaning was also underway at around 4 pm, giving the office the appearance of having already closed for the day.
The regional passport office is officially scheduled to remain open until 4:30 pm.
وفاقی وزیر داخلہ محسن نقوی کا گوجرانوالہ میں ریجنل پاسپورٹ آفس کا اچانک دورہ
پاسپورٹ آفس مقررہ وقت سے قبل بند، عملہ غالب، شہریوں کا داخلہ بند ، باہر سے ٹرخایا جانے لگا
سہ پہر 4 بجے ہی پورے دفتر کی صفائیاں، دفتر میں چھٹی کا سماں pic.twitter.com/Ng9eUVHRds— Ministry of Interior GoP (@MOIofficialGoP) August 27, 2026
Mohsin Naqvi expressed anger over the situation and questioned why the office had been locked before the end of working hours.
‘If the office timing is until 4:30 pm, why has it been locked at 4 pm?’ Naqvi asked.
He also questioned the absence of staff and the treatment of citizens seeking passport services. ‘Are public service offices supposed to operate like this?’ he said.
According to the interior ministry, only one staff member was present at the office, and the official was unable to answer the minister’s questions.
Naqvi ordered that the entire staff be removed from their current positions and directed officials to take disciplinary action for negligence in the performance of official duties.
He also cautioned that there will be no tolerance for negligence in providing services to the public.
