LAHORE: Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Saturday said his recent visit to the United States during President Donald Trump’s inauguration will soon yield positive results for Pakistan.

Speaking to the media after inaugurating a new pas­sport office at the Nadra Centre on Peco Road, Mr Naqvi emphasised that Pakistan’s relationship with the US remains strong.

“You will see positive results very soon. The governments of Pakistan and the United States enjoy good relations, and I visited Washington in that spirit,” he said, adding that he met several US senators and Congress members, claiming that the effects of his visit are already visible, with more to come.

Responding to a question regarding PTI foun­der Imran Khan’s expectations of a supportive call from the US, Mr Naqvi dismissed the speculation, stating: “We have received no such call from the US. If a call comes, we will see.”

Pakistan viewed its ties with the US as vital, with hopes of navigating sha­red interests in a region marked by evolving dy­­n­amics and competing priorities. The government, therefore, made an early effort to engage with the Trump administration by quietly dispatching Mr Naqvi as a special envoy to meet members of the administration’s foreign policy team and Congressional leaders.

Answering a query about the PTI’s call for a protest in Lahore on Feb 8, coinciding with the tri-nation ODI series involving Pakistan, New Zealand and South Africa from Feb 8-14, Mr Naqvi said he would request PTI not to do so, and the same would happen again what happened in the past.

Asked about recent ca­­ses of human smuggling, the interior minister said the Federal Inves­tigation Agency (FIA) was being revamped on a massive scale.

He said the highest nu­­mber of people involved in the smuggling cases were from Faisalabad and Gujranwala divisions, adding, “We get happy if a Pakistani goes abroad via proper channels and not in a manner that gives the country a bad name. Give us some time; you will see much better results.”

On concerns regarding immigration-related corruption at airports, including allegations of bribery, Mr Naqvi said strict measures are being taken. “Just wait a little while. A major revamp of the FIA is underway, and we will ensure that passengers travelling through legal means do not face unnecessary hurdles,” he added.

During his visit, Mr Naqvi reviewed the passport issuance process and interacted with citizens applying for passports. Applicants expressed satisfaction with the facilities and streamlined procedures, appreciating the establishment of the new passport office. The facility will operate in two shifts, allowing citizens to apply for passports until 11pm.

Mr Naqvi also met with the staff at the passport counters and was briefed on operational procedures by the director general of passports and Nadra’s director general in Lahore.

In a separate statement, Mr Naqvi paid tribute to the 18 FC Balochistan soldiers who embraced martyrdom while repelling a militant attack in Kalat. He hailed them as national heroes whose sacrifices for the country’s peace and security would never be forgotten.

He said the brave sons of FC Balochistan had made the ultimate sacrifice for the peace of Pakistan, and the entire nation takes pride in their courage.

Mr Naqvi also commended the security forces for eliminating 23 terrorists in Mangochar and Harnai, stating that their swift response had thwarted the nefarious designs of the militants. He reaffirmed that the entire nation stood in solidarity with its security forces, vowing that Pakistan would never allow terrorist elements to destabilise its hard-earned peace.

Published in Dawn, February 2nd, 2025