THIS is apropos Shakil Ahmad Bokhari`s letter `Passport Renewal` (April 7).

The interior minister has taken notice of the issue raised by the writer and has directed Immigration and Passport authorities to probe the matter for identifying the official concerned who misguided and created inconvenience for the writer.

We regret the inconvenience caused to the writer. It would have been more helpful had the writer indentified the official concerned who misguided him. We would appreciate if he can still do so.

The writer is informed that all passport offices, as per the directives of the interior minister, have standing instructions to extend maximum facilitation to senior citizens. The establishment of special desks for elderly people at various offices is meant to further facilitate these people.

This does not in any manner restrict or bar any senior citizen from going to any other office.

Contrary to the impression given by thewriter, the interior ministry is concerned with formulation of policy framework and is not involved in day-to-day operational matters of the departments.

The issuance of passports is the domain of Immigration and Passport directorate, and the interior ministry has not issued any such directions that were wrongly quoted by the writer.

Sarfraz Hussain Director Media Ministry of Interior