Karachi to get major one-stop centre for CNIC, passport services

KARACHI: Karachi residents will soon be able to access several government services at a single location, with the federal government planning to establish a large public facilitation centre in the city.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi announced the plan during a visit to the Ministry of Interior office on I.I. Chundrigar Road on Tuesday.

The proposed centre will bring services offered by different departments and organisations working under the Interior Ministry under one roof. Citizens will be able to apply for or access services related to passports, CNICs, arms licences, no-objection certificates and other matters.

Naqvi directed officials to prepare and submit a detailed master plan for the facility within 10 days. He said the plan should cover all requirements needed to establish an efficient and accessible centre for the public.

The minister also instructed authorities to take all necessary steps to ensure the project is implemented properly.

New rescue vehicles arrive at Karachi Port

During his Karachi visit, Naqvi also inspected a new fleet of 21 rescue and firefighting vehicles that had arrived at Karachi Port from China.

The vehicles are intended for Islamabad Rescue 1122 and the capital’s fire brigade. According to the Interior Ministry, the new fleet will be transported from Karachi to Islamabad within five days.

Naqvi welcomed the arrival of the vehicles, describing the expansion as the largest addition to Islamabad’s rescue fleet since 2009. He also thanked the Chinese government for speeding up the delivery.

The ministry said the modern vehicles would operate around the clock from six stations across Islamabad.

The new equipment includes four aerial fire trucks, six fire towers and five fire tenders. The vehicles are capable of supporting rescue operations at heights of up to 256 feet.