ISLAMABAD, July 5: Interior Minister Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao on Tuesday said all 28 regional passport offices had been converted into machine readable passport (MRP) centres. During a surprise visit to a passport office at Aabpara, the minister said the government was striving to facilitate the applicants. On the occasion, the minister met several applicants and asked them if they were facing any problems in the issuance of the document.

He assured the people that the hurdles in the issuance of passports would be overcome soon.

Mr Sherpao commended the officers and staff of the Directorate of Immigration and Passports for putting in place the new system in the minimum possible time.

The minister observed the working of the centre and was briefed on the facilities being extended to the applicants.

He said four foreign missions had also been made machine readable passport centres, while the remaining six would start issuing MRPs in the next two to three months.