Passport offices in 14 provinces to go operational on Monday

KABUL (Pajhwok): Passport Offices in 14 provinces would go operational from Monday and there would be no shortage of passports for the next 15 months, an official said on Sunday.

Passport Office Director AlamGulHaqqani told reporters here on the directives of the Ministry of Interior (MoI), Passport Offices in 14 provinces --- Farah, Nimroz, Badghis, Paktia, Laghman, Kunar, Takhar, Zabul, Uruzgan, Jawzjan, Samangan, Baghlan, Bamyan, Panjshir --- will start accepting applications for passport issuance.

Referring to the opening of passport offices for applicants from tomorrow (Monday), Haqqani asked applicants not to travel to capital Kabul for passport and refer to Passport Offices in their respective provinces.

He asked the masses not to offer money to agents for getting passport and refrain from presenting fake documents.

He said enough passports were available with them and they will not face the lack of passports for the next 15 months. Later, the government leadership will take decision in this regard.

Work on the biometric system and stolen data by foreigners was underway and the problem will be soon resolved.

Referring to the closure of Passport Office in Logar province, Haqqani said due to the non-availability of proper place for the office, its operation had been put off.

Nh/ma