ISLAMABAD: In a recent high-level meeting led by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis Saalik Hussain, key progress was reviewed on supporting Pakistanis seeking the Spanish Resident Card. The session included Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry, senior officials from the Federal Interior Secretariat, Overseas Pakistanis Division, FIA, Foreign Affairs, OPF, NADRA, and the Directorate General of Immigration & Passports.
Joining remotely were Pakistan’s Ambassador to Spain, Dr. Zahoor Ahmed, Consul General in Barcelona Muhammad Ali Wazir, and the Community Welfare Attaché. Together, they agreed to expedite the issuance of passports and other necessary documents, ensuring delivery within one week. This move comes ahead of Spain’s upcoming regularization scheme aimed at undocumented migrants.
Minister Saalik Hussain highlighted that approximately 15,000 Pakistanis stand to benefit from this initiative and expressed appreciation for the Interior Ministry’s commitment to supporting the diaspora in Spain. Meanwhile, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi stressed that prompt passport issuance remains a top priority, with strict instructions that no passports be granted to criminals or individuals wanted by law enforcement.
Naqvi also ordered the immediate augmentation of staff at the Pakistani embassy’s passport section in Spain to handle the increased workload. Additionally, he praised the National Police Bureau for significantly accelerating the verification process of police character certificates, which are now being processed on a priority basis.
Ambassador Dr. Zahoor Ahmed and Consul General Muhammad Ali Wazir provided a comprehensive update, confirming that all relevant agencies are closely coordinating to ensure timely delivery of vital documents to Pakistani nationals in Spain. They noted a marked increase in the speed of issuing passports and character certificates. To date, the embassy and consulate have issued 10,000 authority letters as part of this streamlined facilitation effort.
