Shimla passport office issues 25,000 passports in 1st year

Shimla, May 2 (UNI) Union Minister of State for External Affairs Anand Sharma today expressed satisfaction over the functioning of the Shimla Passport Office and said it had issued 25,000 passports during the first year.

''The passport office has issued about 25,000 passports in the first 12 to 14 months of its functioning up to now. Besides there was zero pendency during the first seven to eight months of its functioning,'' he told mediapersons here after a brief visit to the office.

Mr Sharma said adequate funds and personnel were made available to the office during the period to ensure its smooth functioning, which he termed as ''satisfactory''.

''Besides, the office space has also been increased during the period,'' he added.

UNI AS PS MMS1951