Pakistan’s Foreign office launches evening shift for Consular services

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) has introduced an evening shift for consular services, extending working hours from 8am to 8pm on weekdays to enhance accessibility and convenience for citizens, Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar announced on Monday .

According to an official announcement shared by Dar on X, the expanded hours represent a significant increase in service availability, allowing citizens to access consular facilities over a 12-hour window, Monday through Friday . The initiative is part of the ministry’s broader efforts to enhance efficiency and ensure citizen-centric service delivery .

Previously, consular services at MOFA were limited to regular government working hours, requiring citizens to visit offices within a designated daytime schedule . The restricted timings often posed challenges for individuals, particularly overseas Pakistanis and working professionals who faced difficulties accessing services during conventional office hours .

The introduction of the evening shift aims to address these concerns by providing greater flexibility to applicants, officials said . Details of the revised timings have been confirmed, and the ministry expects the move to significantly reduce bottlenecks and improve the overall citizen experience .

The announcement comes amid ongoing efforts by the government to digitize and streamline public services, with the Foreign Office now joining other federal departments in extending service hours to better accommodate the public .