Pakistan takes key measures to end passport backlog

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani citizens could see relief from the current passport backlog by late September, as authorities move to expedite processing with the acquisition of new laminators and printers. The decision to upgrade equipment comes in response to growing delays, with officials aiming to clear the backlog within months.

The Pakistan Passport Office has decided to increase its capacity to do away with the ‘backlog’ of passports completely by December 2024, officials said.

As part of this effort, a six-month stock of laminators and printers had been ordered in advance to prevent future shortages. Modern machinery is being introduced, and the central office is undergoing expansion to further enhance operations.

Director General of Passports and Immigration Mustafa Jamal Qazi stated that these measures will allow the backlog of passports to begin clearing by September this year, with all pending passports provided to applicants by December.

Speaking with Urdu News, Qazi explained that a comprehensive strategy has been thrashed out to permanently resolve the passport crisis. This includes, he said, the import of modern machinery and ensuring a steady supply of lamination papers and other essential equipment.

“These steps are expected to significantly boost the efficiency of the passport office and prevent similar issues in the future.”

Also read: Govt to procure e-passport machines to clear backlog

Recently, the import of lamination papers was hindered by a shortage of dollars with the Passport Office, which contributed to the backlog. However, the Passport Office has now taken precautionary steps by securing a six-month supply of lamination papers. Qazi noted that this measure is intended to avoid potential issues related to foreign currency shortages in the future.

The ink used in passports will continue to be sourced from Germany, with the department purchasing it on a monthly basis at a cost of 5,600 euros.

According to sources, a significant factor in the recent backlog was the lack of modern machinery at the Passport Office.

To address this, 20 advanced laminators and printers are being imported, along with five modern RMPs and two e-passport printers.

These new machines will enable the printing of 1,000 passports per hour, increasing daily printing capacity from 22,000 to 55,000.

“We are working to import these passport printing machines as quickly as possible, and we expect them to arrive in Pakistan by September,” Qazi said.

Further steps to resolve the passport crisis include purchasing printers twice a year to maintain the increased printing capacity. Additionally, a new database will be developed to facilitate real-time data verification with other institutions, including NADRA.

Former Director General of the Passport and Immigration Office, Zulfikar Cheema, mentioned that a similar crisis was resolved within three months in 2013. He emphasised that practical steps, rather than mere claims, were necessary to eliminate such problems.

Another former DG, speaking on condition of anonymity, noted that the Passport Office has not kept pace with increasing demand.

Whereas the Passport Office may have needed to produce 10,000 passports daily five or 10 years ago, current demand has quadrupled, but the office’s capacity has not expanded proportionately, he said.

He also pointed out that relying on imports for essential items like lamination papers and ink contributes to backlogs.

He suggested that the government should ensure the local availability of these materials, which would save valuable foreign exchange and help avoid similar issues in the future.