ISLAMABAD – The prolonged delay in passport issuance has escalated, with approximately 16.5 million applicants still waiting for their passports to be processed.
Mustafa Jamal Qazi, Director General of Immigration and Passports, disclosed this staggering figure during a meeting with lawmakers, emphasizing the severe backlog in the ‘normal’ category of passport applications. However, he provided some relief by confirming that there is no backlog in the overseas category.
Despite the department earning Rs45 billion last year, the backlog for normal category passports continues to grow. The chairman of the Senate committee, Senator Faisal Saleem Rehman, directed the DG of Passport and Immigration to present details on official and diplomatic passports at the next meeting.
The delay in passport printing has been a significant issue for over a year, impacting thousands of Pakistanis. The shortage of lamination paper has contributed to the backlog, causing considerable inconvenience for citizens, especially the youth, many of whom are seeking opportunities abroad.
Currently, the issuance of urgent and e-passports is prioritized, while those applying through the standard process face extended waits or must resort to leveraging connections to expedite their applications.
The primary reason behind the backlog is the dependency on imported paper from France, which has been delayed due to foreign currency problems. Despite multiple efforts to address the issue, the backlog persists, exacerbating the difficulties faced by citizens seeking passports.
The delay in passport issuance has profound implications, especially for the hundreds of thousands of Pakistanis who have left the country in recent years in search of better employment opportunities overseas. The ongoing backlog not only affects their travel plans but also poses challenges for those requiring passports for urgent and essential purposes.
The government must urgently address this issue to streamline the passport issuance process, ensure timely delivery, and alleviate the burden on citizens. By resolving the bottlenecks and improving the efficiency of the Passport and Immigration Department, the authorities can better serve the needs of the population and restore confidence in the system.
