Javed Ullah Raja
Foreign travel of citizens is part of necessity almost throughout the year. Some people go abroad for medical treatments. Some prefer to go out in relations. Likewise, some are also going for sightseeing. Beside this nowadays, the majority of young generation is traveling to foreign countries to study. What so ever who go abroad face many problems in the country before they leave. It is important to note that completing the papers before going out is not as much of a problem as getting the work done from the relevant offices; the truth is that it is not enough for everyone. Even the well educated class gives up. Because, from the beginning till the end, the work is not being done anywhere, despite paying the huge charges. The security arrangements are correct in their place, which are necessary. These are the responsibility of the relevant institutions, but facilities should be provided to the people in the difficult situations. In our own country, such situations have arisen today that it feels like someone is living in a foreign country. In big cities where all big offices are located, people face a lot of difficulties in completing their necessary works. Because especially when the citizens of the country have to go to foreign countries, they have to visit the capital city. This is also because of this that every country’s Embassy, HEC office and Foreign office are located there. Apart from various reasons, if we look at the additional expenses of young students going for education and their difficulties, it has come to light that the Matric and Intermediate (SSC and HSSC) of different educational boards of the country verification fee per document is 1200 for IBCC and 1000 board fee has to be paid. Sometimes the credentials of the universities of the country are then re-verified by the same institutions, the fee is up to 2000. After that, a walk-in customer in a higher institution is being told that the fee for one document verification is Rs 5000. Which is very high for those students going abroad for education as multiple documents are required to be verified at a time. And some documents have to be translated into the language of the respective countries for the embassies, for which the fee of one document ranges from 1000 to 3500 rupees. There are also many difficulties in the verification process of the foreign office. It is said that there are long queues, if someone do not reach there by 6 am on any day, his turn does not come. A person said that I have been dealing with this office for a long time; my children are in foreign countries. If there was any progress in the work of this office, it is only that earlier there were metal tokens and now these are replaced by the paper tokens, apart from the same old system and procedure is adopted. Another strange thing was noticed that on verifying the document stamps are worded as not responsible for the content of this document. Diplomatic offices are public places. Embassies in countries are for the purpose to provide support for national services such as housing, education, health, financial affairs, and other essential services. Generally, these embassies work under the guidance and organization of the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs or other government institutions. The responsibilities of embassies are carried out in accordance with their country’s laws, regulations of government institutions, and the guidance of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The departing people should have all kinds of convenience and ease in their country. After the verification from foreign office, the next step in completing the papers is related to the embassies, which are very difficult. This is a reality in the institutions of our country. Today, people are facing a lot of problems in these foreign offices. Our institutions are responsible for providing citizens everywhere and in every office facilitation should be made available, which is the right of every citizen of the country. Apart from education, treatment, employment and many other functions, movement of most of the population in these offices is normal which is in the interest of all countries. It is beyond understanding to go through various difficult steps to reach these offices in the country. It has been reported that first one has to make an online appointment from the respective embassies and it takes several days to get a response, Responding with “No slots available.” No phone calls are received, and if they are, no one listens. Repeated several e-mails hardly get a response. This creates problems for students who want to go abroad under emergency programmed scholarships because they are already admitted to foreign universities. If the documents are not provided in time, there is a risk of cancellation of the higher education program. The first point of arrival at these offices is known as the shuttle service. Private vehicles are not allowed beyond this place due to security issues and shuttle service is provided. It is true that shuttle service is provided for convenience and ease but surprisingly money is being charged in the name of shuttle service i.e. 1000 rupees per head shuttle service charge. Apart from this, another arbitrariness of these shuttle service people is that if you have to go to the bank to verify the document charges from the embassy in the enclave, they ask for compensation saying that our job is only to bring you and take you back. Which is causing utter abuse and trouble to those who go to these offices, it needs to be resolved. If there is work in any embassy, there is a strange situation. There is a small window behind the embassies and that too is such that it is not possible to speak openly with the concerned officer. While talking on the intercom, it is the will of the person sitting inside to talk or not and to listen to the entire conversation or not. Often they get up and switch off the intercom and leave the office. And the outsiders keep pressing the intercom buttons but no one listens for hours because no one inside does the setting. It is the luck of the visitors that their work is done on time. It is said that the work of dealers is being given importance in these offices. On enquiry, it was said that due to the dealers, the common people also face problems because they get their work done first. Due to which all other people including women and elderly people are also deprived of their rights and injustice. Because, the dealers come with the papers of many peoples. One has to bear the harshness of the weather. And then some visitors are also told that no one goes there without an appointment even if they are told come tomorrow. The processing charges are very high. More than 10000 rupees are being charged for each document. People say that due to the difficulties in the way, the attitude and behavior of the security officials, it feels like crossing the country’s border. The government institutions should relieve the people from these problems; there should be an accounting of corruption everywhere. Especially oblige the embassies in our country to show respect to our citizens in our own country. This is the responsibility of our institutions. Then there are embassies of such big and big countries. If a cash officer is hired to deposit the fees and receive the money at the spot, then those who go abroad will get rid of one problem. And another problem that surprises everyone that the Liaison Officer should be a Pakistani or Urdu speaking as our majority population does not know any language except Urdu. And it is difficult to understand people’s words. Anyway, let’s see how your work is possible on intercom. If an office worker speaks in English, Arabic or any other language, his accent is like the language of his country, it is difficult to understand. On the occasion, many people complained that the office bearers in our own country are not providing us facilities, which needs to be remedied.
