A surprise visit by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has resulted in the removal of the entire staff of the Gujranwala Regional Passport Office after the facility was found closed before the scheduled end of working hours.
During the inspection on Thursday, the minister reportedly discovered that citizens were unable to enter the office and that cleaning work was taking place inside the premises.
Only one employee was found at the facility at the time. When questioned about the absence of the rest of the staff, the official was unable to give a satisfactory explanation.
The situation angered the interior minister, who ordered immediate action against the employees responsible for keeping the public office closed during official working hours.
Following the minister’s instructions, authorities removed the complete office team from their positions.
The action highlights the government’s focus on ensuring that public offices remain accessible to citizens during announced working hours. Passport offices handle essential services for people applying for or renewing travel documents, making timely service particularly important.
The inspection also raised concerns about workplace discipline and staff attendance at government facilities. Citizens visiting such offices often have to manage their schedules around official timings, and unexpected closures can create delays and inconvenience.
By ordering action against the entire team, Naqvi signalled that negligence and failure to provide public services during official hours would not be overlooked.
Authorities have now implemented the orders following the inspection. The development is expected to draw further attention to attendance, service delivery and administrative discipline at passport offices across the country.
The incident also underlines the importance of regular monitoring and surprise inspections to ensure government employees remain available to serve the public during designated working hours.
