Passport applicants in major cities across Pakistan are facing a daunting challenge as normal processing times have surged to an unprecedented 2.5 to 3 months.

Reports of long queues at passport offices in Karachi, Islamabad, Peshawar, Quetta, Lahore, Multan, and Faisalabad have become a common sight, reflecting the growing frustration among citizens seeking essential travel documents.

Despite the option to pay urgent fees for expedited services, applicants are finding only marginal relief, with delivery delays still stretching up to a couple of weeks.

Shortage of lamination paper

The root cause of this delay is attributed to a recent shortage of lamination paper, which, when combined with a surge in passport applications, has created a significant backlog in the printing process.

Officials from passport offices acknowledge the strain on the system, citing a notable increase in applications as the primary contributor to the backlog. The delayed procurement of lamination paper has only complicated matters further, leading to extended wait times for applicants.

Job opportunities abroad at risk

Citizens, many of whom claim to have secured job opportunities abroad, are expressing growing frustration over the prolonged wait times. There are mounting concerns about potential job losses due to delays in obtaining the necessary travel documents.

Urgent calls are being made for authorities to intervene and expedite the passport delivery process to alleviate the hardships faced by applicants.

Adding to the concerns, unscrupulous agents are taking advantage of the situation, exploiting desperate applicants by promising expedited passport delivery in exchange for additional fees.

This exploitative practice has intensified the challenges faced by individuals already grappling with the extended processing times.

The situation is further exacerbated by a recent system outage, highlighting the strain on the passport issuance system. Applicants are voicing their concerns, asserting that such disruptions are becoming a regular occurrence and are adversely impacting the efficiency of the passport application process.

As citizens continue to endure extended wait times, urgent measures are being urged to address the shortage of lamination paper, streamline the application process, and eliminate exploitative practices to ensure a smoother and more efficient passport issuance system for the benefit of all applicants.