Citizens of Pakistan Suffer When Passports Issuance Process is Excessively Slow.

The National Assembly of Pakistan discussed the matter of Pakistani passport issuance delays last month. According to the passport authorities, for the past 1.5 years, complaints regarding delays have been received from all over the nation in issuing one of the most important travel document passports.

The processing of passport applications for more than 5,50,000 people is taking two to three months longer than expected. Several Pakistanis who intend to perform the Hajj and Umrah are also experiencing significant delays in the issuance of passports.

The authorities stated that the passports that should arrive in 21 days have been delayed for a long time of two months. Even with urgent fees for expedited service, many applicants have been waiting unsuccessfully for months to receive their passports. 

This act has made many people more frustrated and anxious. They complain that using the standard fee rather than the urgent fee in order to save money makes them more worried because they were told that their passport would arrive in three weeks but arrived in three to four months.

Delays in Pakistani Passport Issuance

Reason of Too Much Delay of Passport Issuance

The Passport and Immigration Department has failed to provide machine readable and electronic passports on time. Due to a lack of lamination paper and the limited capacity of existing machinery, the passport issuance process has been delayed for the past year, resulting in considerable inconvenience for the citizens. Applicants must wait for roughly four months after paying the standard fees. The department imports the paper from France every time but due to a cash shortage this year, the consignment was delayed.

Additionally, the passport office stated that there is a shortage of printing ink and that there is a crisis involving passport printing as well. They claim that this issue should also be highlighted so the delay can be avoided by immediately getting the ink shipment. 

General Guide to Pakistani Passport Issuance Process

1. Steps for Applying for a Pakistani Passport:

• Online Application:
  Applicants can initiate their application through the Directorate General of Immigration & Passports website. Alternatively, they may visit a passport office to apply manually.
• Required Documents:
  • Original CNIC (Computerized National Identity Card).
  • Proof of residence.
  • Passport-sized photographs.
  • Payment slip of standard or urgent fee.
• Types of Passports:
  • Standard Passport: Regular processing; normally issued within 21 working days.
  • Urgent Passport: Expedited processing; usually delivered in 5-7 days but may vary due to delays.

2. Passport Fee Structure:

• Standard Fee:
  5-year validity passport - PKR 3,000 (32-page).
  10-year validity passport - PKR 5,000 (32-page).
• Urgent Fee:
  5-year validity passport - PKR 5,000 (32-page).
  10-year validity passport - PKR 9,000 (32-page).

3. Delays and Common Issues:

• Current Delays:
  Due to issues like a shortage of lamination paper, printing ink, and machinery limitations, passport issuance can take up to four months for standard processing.
• Shortage of Materials:
  Paper and ink shortages have been major contributors to the delays, causing frustration for many citizens.

4. Tips to Avoid Delays:

• Apply Early:
  Plan well ahead of your travel dates to account for potential delays.
• Use Urgent Services Carefully:
  While urgent services are supposed to be faster, recent issues have also affected these applications. Stay updated on processing times.
• Track Your Application:
  Regularly check the status of your application through the passport office’s online tracking system.

Current Scenario by September, Passport Issues might be Resolved

Sources claim that a request for this purpose has been prepared by the director general of immigration and passports and sent to the interior ministry and with this action the passport authorities declare that the new machines will be ordered from overseas in September of this year. 

The government has decided to order around eight new passport printing machines, which should solve the issue of delays in passport issuance nationwide. Other than that, two e-passport computers and six desktop computers will also be purchased. With these resources around One thousand passports can be printed in an hour by the new machines.

The Federal Board of Revenue FBR was also given the assurance to the passport office that the customs duties officers would be paid in 15 days so the passport issuance procedure will speed up as much as it can.