GILGIT, Feb 9: The passport office in Gilgit has stopped issuing passports to the applicants as the interior ministry has not issued fresh no objection certificate in this regard to the local administration, sources told Dawn on Thursday.

They said that the interior ministry authorized the deputy commissioners in the five Northern Areas districts for a certain period to issue the passports to residents.

CONSTRUCTION BANNED: Gilgit divisional magistrate has banned constructions in the surroundings of the bus terminal at Jutial. Officials said haphazard construction was likely to create congestion in the area.