Addressing the Karachi Chamber of Commerce on Monday, he emphasized the government’s efforts to modernize the passport system and enhance travel facilitation for overseas Pakistanis.

He said progress is being made on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s commitment to introduce the blue passport, particularly for frequent travelers and government officials.

“We are actively working on passport ranking systems to make the process more convenient for the public,” the minister noted.

Naqvi added that visa restrictions for Pakistanis in Oman have recently been relaxed, while discussions are ongoing with the UAE to address visa-related issues.

Commenting on Karachi, he acknowledged the city’s scale and complexity of problems but affirmed the government’s commitment to resolving them.

“A healthy Karachi means a healthy Pakistan — and all of us are striving towards that goal,” he stated.

Naqvi highlighted that the Karachi Safe City Project is receiving special attention from the prime minister, citing Faisalabad’s example where crime rate saw a marked decline after implementing similar surveillance systems.

He also credited the Sindh Police for its efforts in reducing crime.

Regarding encroachments, the minister stressed the importance of a reward-and-penalty approach.

He said the prime minister and army chief are also focused on this issue, and that fines for encroachment in Islamabad have already been increased.

Naqvi noted that Ashura passed peacefully across the country, with minimal mobile service suspension — a marked improvement in crowd control and coordination.

He also pointed out that smuggling of dollars and other items from Karachi had been curbed in recent months.

“The situation is now under control,” he stressed, adding that the federal government is committed to addressing the issues of all major cities on a priority basis.

The minister reaffirmed the government’s resolve to elevate Pakistan through improvements in tax reform, security, and urban infrastructure, ensuring better services and international standing in the days ahead.