In the era of internet and with a number of passport seva kendras opening in different parts of the country in the last few years, getting a passport is not that difficult anymore. But getting one in just one hour is still something astounding.
Soyef Shaikh, a resident of Shahpur in Ahmedabad, was left distraught when the news of the death of his father Ramzani in Saudi Arabia reached him. With no passport in hand, Soyef’s prospects seemed grim. However, the Ahmedabad Regional Passport Office (RPO) issued him a fresh passport in just one hour, paving the way for him to travel to that country.
Ramzani Shaikh and his wife Shyarabanu left on an Umrah (pilgrimage) to Mecca some days ago. They planned to stay there for 28 days. However, Soyef Shaikh received news of his father’s demise on Wednesday night. The procedure to obtain the necessary documents from Saudi Arabia took some time. Once he got the papers on Friday, he applied for a new passport and visited the passport seva kendra here at Mithakhali.
He said, “I had a letter from Jamalpur MLA Imran Khedawala and initially intended to apply under the tatkal (urgent) category. The PSK staff informed me that obtaining a tatkal passport would take three days. I was advised to approach the RPO.”
Soyef approached the Ahmedabad RPO, where Wren Mishra, guided him to senior superintendent Sonal Jethwa. Jethwa promptly took up the case and expedited the passport issuance process, ensuring that Soyef received the passport in an hour.
Soyef now flies out on Saturday and expressed hope that he would now be able to attend his father’s burial. He had urged family members to postpone the burial until he obtained his passport. Although he initially suggested that they proceed with the burial if he couldn’t get the passport in time, he anticipates being present for the final rites.
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