ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed says an SMS service is being launched to inform people six months prior to the expiry of their passports.

Talking to media in Islamabad on Thursday, he said the government also plans to launch new e-passport service on April 28 next year.

The Minister said the Pakistanis aspiring to go to the Middle East will be issued passport for ten years.

He said home delivery of passports is being started in Islamabad and Rawalpindi.

The Minister said the process of visa issuance to the Chinese nationals working on CPEC projects will be made further easy.

Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said he has directed to shorten the ECL and the blacklist as there are one hundred thousand people on the blacklist.

He said only those elements involved in criminal and anti-state activities should be kept in the list.

The Minister said he has given ultimatum of one week to the people selling smuggled petrol and diesel. He said if they do not stop this practice, the ministry will take action against them.

Sheikh Rashid Ahmed expressed commitment to improve financial position of the Directorate of Immigration and Passport.

To a question, the Minister said he does not think that the PDM will tender resignations en bloc.