ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Member of the National Assembly Agha Rafiullah has urged Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to reform the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ document attestation system by outsourcing its operations and introducing digital services.
In a letter to the prime minister, Rafiullah expressed concern over long queues outside the Foreign Office, saying videos circulating on social media highlight the difficulties faced by citizens seeking document attestation.
He noted that people from remote areas are forced to travel to Islamabad, incurring significant expenses and enduring lengthy waiting times due to the system’s limited capacity.
The lawmaker proposed modernizing the attestation process by establishing nationwide facilitation centers, digitizing the system, and allowing citizens to submit applications and pay fees online. He also recommended introducing QR code-based digital verification to improve efficiency and security.
Rafiullah said the proposed reforms would enhance transparency, reduce processing times, lower travel costs for citizens, and align with the government’s Digital Pakistan and e-governance initiatives.
He called on the prime minister to direct the Foreign Office to implement the reforms on an urgent basis.
