ON March 25, I went to the passport office in Saddar Karachi seeking a fresh ordinary passport. After completing most of the formalities, I was informed by an official at the office that since my Computerized National Identity Card picture had a blue background, I could not have a new passport issued.

I would have to get a new CNIC made with a white background picture in order to get a fresh passport made.

This is confusing as my CNIC is valid till 2024. Moreover, I have bought a vehicle and opened bank accounts on the basis of this CNIC, with a blue background picture. Could the ministry of interior please clarify this matter: are CNICs with blue-coloured background pictures not being honoured anymore at passport offices in Pakistan?

Syed Khadim Hassan
Karachi

Published in Dawn, April 9th, 2019