DG Passports Seeks Extension Despite Audit Scandal and Public Outrage

The Directorate General of Immigration and Passports has formally initiated a request to extend the deputation of Mustafa Jamal Kazi, who is currently serving as the Director General (DG) of the department. Sources revealed that, on Kazi’s own instructions, the Directorate has written to the Ministry of Interior (MoI), seeking an extension of his tenure. The Ministry has been asked to forward the case to the Establishment Division for further processing. However, the timing and rationale behind the request have raised serious concerns within the Ministry, as Kazi is already due to retire in May 2026, leaving less than eight months of service even if an extension is granted. While Kazi’s tenure has included initiatives such as the digitization of passport services and the expansion of regional passport offices, these efforts have been largely overshadowed by operational failures and public dissatisfaction. In the past year, millions of passport applicants across the country have faced severe delays, including those who paid for urgent or executive services. Processing times have stretched to several weeks, triggering national frustration and raising serious doubts about the Directorate’s efficiency. A recent audit report by the Auditor General of Pakistan (AGP) has further intensified scrutiny. The report accuses the I&P Directorate, under Kazi’s leadership, of violating foreign posting policies and failing to comply with official procedures. Key audit findings include 46 officers who completed their foreign postings have not returned to Pakistan. These officers continue to draw full salaries, allowances, and benefits despite the expiry of their official tenures. Insiders in the Ministry of Interior disclosed that Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi is unhappy with Kazi’s performance, particularly his failure to implement official orders issued on February 29, 2024, regarding the foreign postings of IMPASS officers and officials. This lack of action has reportedly weakened operational capacity, both domestically and abroad. In addition, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has repeatedly raised concerns about critical staffing shortages at Pakistani missions, which have severely affected Machine Readable Passport (MRP) services for overseas Pakistanis. “Despite repeated reminders, the Directorate failed to make the required postings, paralyzing MRP operations in several missions abroad,” said MOFA official. Sources said that Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has reportedly raised questions about the overall performance of the Passport Directorate under Kazi’s leadership. With mounting internal dissatisfaction, public service failures, and damning audit observations, sources say the key question now is whether the minister will approve the extension of Kazi’s deputation or opt for new leadership to reform the troubled institution. The scribe reached out to the Spokesperson of the Ministry of Interior for comments on the matter, but no response was received until the finalization of this report.