India third largest passport issuing country: Sushma Swaraj
Shillong, Nov 14: India is the third largest passport issuing country in the world, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said Friday. "India accounts for 14 percent of passport issuance and it is the third largest issuing country after China and the United States," joint secretary (PSP and CPO) Muktesh K. Pardeshi said quoting Sushma Swaraj's speech. Pardeshi read Swaraj's written speech after she cancelled her visit to Shillong along with Minister of State for External Affairs and Overseas Indian Affairs General V.K. Singh (retd.) to inaugurate the Shillong Passport Seva Kendra, as the Mi-17 helicopter of the Indian Air Force carrying them failed to land at the helipad this morning due to bad weather. Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma, who inaugurated the Shillong Passport Seva Kendra, said the passport office will greatly benefit the people of the state as they will not have to go to Guwahati to avail the travelling document.