KHAR: The regional passport office in Bajaur Agency has finally been reopened after remaining closed for a decade.

The passport office was established in 2005, but it was closed down in 2007 owing to militancy in the region.

Senator Hidayatullah Khan inaugurated the passport office at a ceremony here the other day.

On the occasion, the senator said reopening of the passport office was good news for the people who would be able to get passports at their doorstep. He claimed that reopening of the office was made possible because of his efforts.

The senator said due to closure of the office, people had to go to Timergara in Lowe Dir for having the document prepared. Officials of the directorate general of immigration and passport told reporters on the occasion that the passport office was fully equipped, adding some of the applicants had also been issued tokens on the first day of reopening of the office.

Though the people welcomed the reopening of the passport office, they said peace had been restored in the tribal agency in 2011, yet the office remained shut for unknown reasons. They blamed the local lawmakers for the delay.

Meanwhile, PML-N legislator Shahabuddin Khan criticised Senator Hidayatullah Khan for inaugurating the passport office, saying the latter had nothing to do with the matters concerning the federal government.

In a statement issued on Sunday, he said as per the rules, the MNA concerned was the authority to inaugurate the passport office as it was under the federal interior ministry.

According to the PML-N lawmaker, the passport office was reopened thanks to his efforts of last three years. He said he had taken up the matter with the interior minister, and directorate general of immigration and passport. The PML-N lawmaker also criticised the local administration for inviting the senator for inaugurating the passport office.

Published in Dawn, March 27th, 2017