PATO COMMENDS PNG IMMIGRATION

PNG Foreign Minister.Rimbink Pato

Foreign Affairs and Immigration Minister Rimbink Pato has praised the Immigration Department for living up to the Government's theme of 2013 being the year of implementation, naming a list of the Department's achievements.

Minister Pato says, much of what the Department has achieved were among government priorities.

Minister Pato named the tabling of changes to Immigration laws to allow dual citizenship, removal of visa fees for tourists, removing granting of visa backlogs, reducing visa processing time, streamlined processing of cruise ship passengers and the opening of an immigration border post in PNG's next international travel hub of Tokua Airport in East New Britain province, among some of their achievements. 

The Immigration Department has also opened provincial offices, and has convinced Australia to provide online visa access, reduced documentary requirements and put up dedicated arrival lanes at Brisbane and Cairns airports. 

The Department is also implementing free visa arrangements with Israel. 

It is also providing regional leadership to protect refugees and prevent trade of people smuggling, through the Manus Regional Asylum Processing Centre. 

Minister Pato says the Department has more work in 2014, to implement the Dual Citizenship, improving passport and visa systems, and opening more provincial and overseas offices.

The Minister says if 2013 is anything to go by, the Immigration Department is up for the challenges ahead.