Passport Processing Woes Hit Major Pakistani Cities: Wait Time Extends to 3 Months
Major cities in Pakistan are grappling with extensive delays in passport processing, with wait times stretching to 3 months. A shortage of lamination paper, coupled with a surge in applications, has led to a backlog, causing frustration among applicants, including those seeking overseas job opportunities. Urgent calls for intervention arise as some exploit the situation for personal gain. This situation unfolds against the backdrop of a recent system outage, raising concerns about the resilience of the passport issuance system.
Karobar
Facing unprecedented delays, passport applicants in key Pakistani cities, including Karachi, Islamabad, Peshawar, Quetta, Lahore, Multan, and Faisalabad, now endure a prolonged wait of 2.5 to 3 months for standard processing.
Lengthy queues have become a common sight at passport offices, where even the payment of urgent fees, designed to expedite the process, provides minimal relief. Delivery delays of up to a couple of weeks persist, adding to the frustration of applicants.
The chief cause of this delay stems from a recent scarcity of lamination paper, exacerbated by a surge in citizens applying for new passports. Officials at passport offices acknowledge a significant uptick in applications, leading to a backlog in the printing process. The delayed procurement of lamination paper has further complicated matters.
Applicants, including those with overseas job opportunities, express dismay over the extended wait times, fearing potential job losses due to delays in securing necessary travel documents. Urgent calls are being made for authorities to intervene and streamline the passport delivery process.
Compounding these concerns, unscrupulous agents are exploiting the situation, extorting money from desperate applicants with promises of accelerated passport delivery.
This situation unfolds against the backdrop of a recent system outage, underscoring the strain on the passport issuance system. Applicants are apprehensive that such disruptions may become a recurring issue.
