MUHAMMAD ALI

KARACHI: As many as 47,561 government employees have been found to be holding their passports in private capacity; many of whom have done so with a view to concealing their foreign nationalities.

According to a letter, which was exclusively available to Business Recorder, the Directorate General, Immigration & Passports has confirmed that during an exercise regarding government officers, who did not declare their foreign nationalities, it was ascertained that around 47,561 government employees have obtained passports in private capacity without mentioning government service as their profession.

“Attaining a passport in private capacity being a government servant is punishable offence under section 6 of the Passport Act 1974. Thus all 47,561 officers have committed an offence under the provision of the section,” the letter said.

The case is now being referred to the ministry of interior for further action, sources said.

Moreover, they said the Directorate has suggested issuing a general notice in leading newspapers in order to allow these officers to get rectified their data within two months of its publication along with Rs 5000 penalty.

Sources said the government officials who obtained their passports before joining the service needed to correct their data in passport by producing NOC from their parent department in the same period.

Replying to a question, sources said that after the two-month deadline, the passports of these officers would not only be annulled but a legal action would also be initiated against them under the relevant section of passport Act 1974 by FIA and other agencies.