Govt to procure e-passport machines to clear backlog

ISLAMABAD: The federal government has issued tenders to purchase printing and e-passport machines to clear the backlog of over 800,000 pending passports.

The authorities are printing 20,000 to 25,000 passports daily while receiving an average of 40,000 to 45,000 applications per day.

Lahore, Karachi to have at least one round-the-clock passport office

This comes after applicants’ complained about the significant delays in the issuance of Pakistani passports.

International tenders have also been issued for the acquisition of lamination paper.

Earlier in March, it was reported that Pakistani passport applicants were experiencing unusual delays in receiving their passports, with over 550,000 individuals facing two to three months of wait time.

A similar issue was also highlighted last year, citing a shortage of lamination paper.

The Passport and Immigration Department attributed the delay to the shortage of ink and lamination paper. But it has been assured that once these supplies are replenished, all pending passports will be cleared by June.

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The delays in passport issuance have caused inconvenience to a substantial number of Pakistanis, particularly those planning to undertake the Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages. – INP