Now this is something really nice. Although it is just a pilot project right now I am keenly awaiting a large scale roll out of this service. Technology is finally being used to help the common man in Pakistan.
This is a blessing for people who regularly visit passport offices (renewals, new family additions, etc.) in Pakistan. If you aren’t aware, let me tell you that it takes hours to get through the process. And during this long journey a lot of time is spent in line waiting to deposit your passport fee at the designated National Bank of Pakistan branch. Although these branches are usually close to the passport office, standing in line and waiting for your turn is really irritating.
What am I talking about? If the title hasn’t given it away yet, I am talking about Mobilink’s Passport Fee Collection service. The service has been launched as a pilot in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi and lets people who want to deposit their passport fee avoid the long lines at designated National Bank of Pakistan branches and instead deposit the Passport fee via a Mobicash agent or using their Mobilink Mobile Accounts.
Incredible Achievement!
This is not only an amazing partnership, but also an extremely difficult one to put together. However, Mobilink has succeeded in roping in the National Bank of Pakistan and the Office of the Directorate General of Immigration & Passports to achieve this feat. Credit goes to Mobilink for bringing together two huge and sensitive government bodies.
The Head of Mobile Financial Services at Mobilink, speaking at the launch of the pilot service in the twin cities thanked both the departments, saying “The Passport Fee Collection service is now active in Rawalpindi & Islamabad. Citizens of Pakistan can now simply deposit their passport fees with our largest network of agents. Special acknowledgement goes out to Directorate General of Immigration & Passports and National Bank of Pakistan for their support in the implementation of this unique service.”
Although it does seem a bit magnanimous, we all understand that it is in the end all about the money. The huge amounts of cash that Mobilink Financial Services will have flowing through their accounts is, well, to say the least “a lot”.
How do we use it?
The service is quite simple to use. You can either visit the nearest Mobicash outlet (these are quite easy to find now days) or just dial *786# from your mobile phone and you will be guided through the rest of the process.
The service has a fee though. The users are charged PKR 100 per passport i.e. PKR 100 in addition to the passport fee. Once you have deposited your fee, all you need to do is to go to your designated passport office with your Computerized National Identity Card (CNIC) for further processing.
We have been told that a countrywide roll out of the service is planned in March. If this project is successful it will be a win-win situation for everyone involved, including the general public!
Not just this, but it will prove that a public-private partnership can really do wonders in solving many simple problems that the Pakistani public faces every day.
Two Thumbs up for Mobilink!
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