The Passport and Immigration Department is struggling with major delays in issuing passports, impacting over 500,000 applicants. Fees have been gathered in millions, yet both normal and urgent passports are encountering delays of up to two months.
The department is swamped by a surge in applications, 50,000 daily, amid deteriorating economic circumstances. Despite a processing capacity of only 25,000 passports per day, 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 now been settled and addressed. However, the production capacity of the department remains inefficient amid the high demand.
Director General of Passport and Immigration Mustafa Jamal Qazi declared that the tenders for advanced printing machines are almost complete, with new operators anticipated to come by October. The delay in getting these machines was due to the requirement of specialized technology featuring enhanced security features, which need compliance with the measures and regulations. Qazi expressed confidence that the arrival of new machinery will highlight the current delays in processing the passport.Â
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The massive delays in issuing passports will pose various negative effects
Firstly, delays in passport issuance are anticipated to affect the ability of individuals to travel for business or employment opportunities abroad and potentially lead to financial losses.
Secondly, the long wait times are anticipated to lead to widespread dissatisfaction among applicants, particularly those who require passports urgently for going to a particular country or for work or educational purposes.
Thirdly, individuals may miss important travel opportunities like job interviews, family events, and international conferences due to the inability to obtain a passport promptly.
Fourthly, in a situation where normal processing is severely delayed, there might be an increased risk of corruption, with the message potentially looking for unofficial ways or methods to expedite their applications.
Fifthly, the over-dependence on fast-track more expensive passport services may disproportionately prove to affect those who are not capable of affording the higher fees, creating inequality in accessing essential travel documents.
Sixthly, the high surge in application combined with insufficient processing capacity is anticipated to lead to overworked staff and resource depletion, which causes further delays and inefficiencies.