A peculiar challenge has surfaced for Pakistani citizens seeking to obtain new passports – a shortage of lamination paper. This unexpected hurdle has triggered a nationwide scarcity of the essential travel document, leaving thousands in a state of uncertainty, particularly those with imminent plans for study, work, or leisure abroad.
The Express Tribune reports that the country is grappling with a massive shortage of lamination paper, leading to delays in passport issuance. Individuals eagerly awaiting their green-coloured travel document now find themselves caught in a frustrating ordeal with no clear resolution in sight.
Among the affected are students who, having secured approved visas for academic pursuits in the UK or Italy, now face the possibility of losing valuable opportunities due to the passport delays. Hira, a student, shared her distress, stating, “My student visa for Italy was recently approved, and I had to be in the country in October. However, the unavailability of a passport robbed me of an opportunity to leave.”
The shortage stems from a similar situation in 2013 when the Directorate General of Immigration & Passports (DGI&P) faced delays in printing due to owing money to printers and a lack of lamination papers. Qadir Yar Tiwana, the Director General for Media of the Ministry of Interior, assured citizens that the government is actively working to resolve the crisis. “The situation will soon be under control, and passport issuance will continue as normal,” he stated.
However, residents have reported receiving conflicting messages from the DGI&P, claiming their passports are ready for pickup, only to be turned away when they reach the passport office. Muhammad Imran, a resident of Peshawar, expressed frustration, stating, “Ever since September, the passport office has been stating that your passport will come next week, but multiple weeks have passed, and they keep repeating the same.”
Passport offices in Pakistani cities are grappling with the uncertainty, with a senior officer from the Peshawar passport office revealing that they can currently process only 12 to 13 passports per day, compared to 3,000 to 4,000 passports per day earlier. The estimated wait time, according to officials, could extend to another month or two, intensifying the frustration and uncertainty among citizens eagerly awaiting their essential travel documents.
Sources By Agencies