Delays in Issuance of Passports Affect Half a Million Applicants

The Passport and Immigration Department is grappling with significant delays in issuing passports, impacting over 500,000 applicants. Fees have been collected in millions, yet both normal and urgent passports are facing delays of up to two months.

The department is overwhelmed by a surge in applications—50,000 daily—amid worsening economic conditions, despite a processing capacity of only 25,000 passports per day.

At present, only fast-track passports are being issued within a week, with fees between 20,000 and 27,000 rupees. Previous delays were attributed to issues with passport ink and lamination paper, which have since been resolved.

However, the department’s production capacity remains inadequate to meet the high demand. Director General of Passport and Immigration, Mustafa Jamal Qazi, announced that tenders for advanced printing machines are nearly complete, with the new equipment expected to arrive by October.

The delay in acquiring these machines was due to the need for specialized technology featuring enhanced security features, which required compliance with strict regulations. Qazi expressed confidence that the arrival of the new machinery will address the current passport processing delays.