Karachi tops list in CNIC delay, corruption complaints, NA told

ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Interior has informed the National Assembly that 19,901 cases related to delays, corruption, and unnecessary objections in the issuance of national identity cards (CNICs) have been reported, with Karachi topping the list.

In a written reply during question hour, the house was told that last year alone, 13,500 complaints were received regarding delays in issuing CNICs, along with 461 reported cases of corruption and 5,940 cases of unwarranted objections.

Of these, Karachi accounted for 7,872 complaints of delays, 254 reported cases of corruption by staff members, and 3,940 unwarranted objections. Multan reported 2,605 complaints of delays, 37 corruption cases, and 638 unwarranted objections; Lahore had 1,313 complaints of delays, 26 corruption cases, and no unwarranted objections; Sargodha recorded 344 complaints of delays, 28 corruption cases, and 612 unwarranted objections.

From Islamabad (including AJK and Gilgit-Baltistan), there were 471 delay complaints, 49 corruption cases, and 308 unwarranted objections. Quetta and Gwadar together recorded 425 delay complaints, 14 corruption cases, and 292 unwarranted objections. Peshawar reported 353 delay complaints, 33 corruption cases, and no unwarranted objections, while Sukkur had 117 delay complaints, 20 corruption cases, and 151 unwarranted objections.

In another written reply, the Ministry of Interior and Narcotics Control informed the house that the Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF), acting on the directives of the Prime Minister’s Office and GHQ, carried out 369 operations across 263 universities, seizing over 1,427 kilogrammes of narcotics and arresting 426 individuals.

A nationwide survey on drug use in universities and colleges is expected to be completed by 2026. To sustain these efforts, the ANF continues to prioritise intelligence-based operations around educational institutions and maintains vigilance over administrative staff to prevent internal facilitation of drug activity.

These coordinated actions reflect a strong and proactive response by the authorities to curb the supply of narcotics near campuses. While public concerns, particularly among parents, remain understandable, recent ANF operations — resulting in significant drug seizures and arrests — demonstrate the government’s commitment to reducing the threat and restoring confidence.

In another reply to a question by MNA Nazir Bhugio, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi informed the house that four hotels — Marriott, Serena, Best Western, and Mövenpick — have been issued permits to sell alcohol under specific conditions.

The L-2 licence fee is set at Rs500,000, with an annual renewal fee of Rs150,000. Under the governing conditions, liquor may only be supplied to authorised persons possessing valid permits (Form PR-I and PR-II). Licencees must preserve all purchase bills for inspection, maintain true accounts of liquor receipts and sales, and report the arrival of every consignment within seven days — and at least 48 hours before opening — to the Prohibition Officer.

The premises for liquor sales must be separate from those for other commodities, and licencees must comply with all instructions issued by the excise commissioner. The excise commissioner reserves the right to cancel the licence at any time without assigning a reason.