SRINAGAR: Union Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh and Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh Vinai Kumar Saxena on Wednesday inaugurated a Post Office Passport Seva Kendra (POPSK) in Kargil, bringing passport services closer to residents of the district and adjoining areas.
The new centre, established by the Ministry of External Affairs in collaboration with the Department of Posts at the Sub Post Office, Kargil, is the second POPSK in Ladakh after the facility in Leh, which has been operational since 2017. It is the 457th POPSK in the country.
The facility addresses a long-standing demand of Kargil residents, who previously had to travel to Leh or Srinagar to access passport-related services. Its opening is expected to reduce the time, travel and expenses involved in obtaining passports, particularly for people from Kargil and neighbouring areas.
The centre is also expected to benefit residents seeking passports for Haj and Umrah pilgrimages to Saudi Arabia, as well as those travelling abroad for education and employment.
Speaking at the inauguration, Saxena said the facility marked another step towards ensuring last-mile delivery of citizen-centric services in Ladakh.
He thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Ministry of External Affairs and the Department of Posts for addressing the long-pending demand of the people of Kargil.
The Lieutenant Governor said making essential services available closer to citizens was part of the Government’s “Ease of Living” vision, particularly in remote and geographically challenging regions such as Ladakh. He expressed confidence that the new centre would provide efficient, transparent and hassle-free passport services.
Singh said the establishment of the Kargil POPSK was part of the Government’s efforts to extend passport services to remote and underserved areas and make them more accessible and citizen-friendly.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by Ladakh MP Mohmad Haneefa, LAHDC Kargil Chairman and Chief Executive Councillor Mohd Jaffer Akhoon, along with senior officials from the Ministry of External Affairs, Department of Posts and the UT Administration.
