Pak consular services in Bahrain goes online

From now on, all the consular services and the appointments regarding the Pakistan Embassy here will be available online, announced Head of Chancery (HOC) Muhammad Ahad.

This was in light of the fact that Pakistan Embassy Bahrain was now linked to the online system of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Islamabad. 

Speaking to DT News yesterday, HOC Ahad said that it had been the long standing demand of the Pakistan community, and the embassy was happy to announce that their demand had at last been met. 

They now expect many of their problems emanating from the current token system to be solved in one go. 

Giving the details of the online system, he said that the entire consular services including issuance and renewal of passports, attestations of all the documents, National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis (NICOP)/ Pakistan Origin Card (POC), visa services and other community welfare matters have all been put on the online system. All forms related to the Consular Section will also be available online, he added.  

He said that anybody could apply for an appointment online to meet with the Ambassador of Pakistan, Head of Chancery and the Community Welfare Attaché. Those who applied can meet the ambassador on Sundays, while the Head of Chancery and the Community Welfare Counsellor will be available any day during all the working days.  

“It was a routine matter that the people used to come to embassy quite unexpected and then they had to wait for an hour or two hours to get their jobs done. It was not easy for the working people to spare so much time,” he added, “And now, they will be able to apply for an appointment from their homes. They can then reach at the appointed time, and go back with their jobs done in no time.”

He said that at times people came in with the incomplete documents as they were not aware of the requirements in their applications. But now, every thing has been detailed on the website.

He also mentioned that the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has introduced an online application for Processing of National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis (NICOP) and Pakistan Origin Card (POC). So far, more than 40,000 Overseas Pakistanis have been able to process their Smart NICOP through online applications. This service is available at id.nadra.gov.pk

The HOC added that it had always been their endeavour to assist the community in their day-to-day problems, and the introduction of online system was a step closer to realising it. Now the people could avoid the hassles of long waits and the accompanying tensions.

To apply for an appointment, simply go to www.mofa.gov.pk/Bahrain and select the option ‘Online Appointment System’. This system accommodates twelve applicants in the span of one hour. 

If anyone has any queries about the consular services, he or she could email parepbahrain@mofa.gov.pk and expect a reply within 15 minutes. This service is round the clock, seven days a week. However, the reply to the passport trekking system will only be available only during the office hours.  

A handbook has been provided at the embassy’s page, with contact numbers of all the focal persons in the ministries, embassies and agencies of Pakistan.

The HOC then weighed in about the best part of the online system. He said that a complaint system has also been launched by the Federal Ombudsman, and through this system any complaint about any embassy-related issue could be tackled within 15 days. If an applicant wants to benefit from this service, he or she could simply go to the aforementioned website and click the option of ‘Online complaints to the Wafaqi Mohtasib’. The complaint system was working foolproof, he added.