Passport crisis: 800,000 Pakistanis wait as funding delay holds up new printing machine

LAHORE: Pakistan’s Passport and Immigration Department is struggling to keep up with the massive demand for passports, despite generating PKR 50 to 51 billion annually.

The department’s backlog, which once surpassed 1.5 million, has decreased, but still, 800,000 people are waiting for their passports.

The root of the problem lies in the lack of a new, advanced printing machine, which would double the current capacity, producing 40,000 to 42,000 passports per day.

However, bureaucratic delays and import restrictions have hindered the acquisition of this essential equipment.

Additionally, department officials are frustrated, pointing out that despite their significant revenue contributions, they haven’t received the necessary funds. “We receive 72,000 to 75,000 applications daily but can only process 22,000, leaving many applicants in limbo,” said a senior official.

Mustafa Jamal Qazi, Director General of Passport and Immigration, acknowledges the challenges but assures that efforts are underway to resolve the issue. “We’ve managed to issue passports to around 700,000 to 800,000 people from the backlog, but new applications keep piling up’’ said the director general.

The good news is that another funding request has been submitted to the Finance Division, and if approved, the new machine could be operational next month, clearing the backlog by November or December.

Moreover, the government is also working to address the crisis, and according to recent reports, the passport delays issue is nearing resolution.

This is a welcome relief for those urgently needing passports, and the department remains optimistic that the situation will improve soon.