LAHORE: Over 800,000 people in Pakistan are waiting for their passports due to a delay in government funding for a new passport printing machine. Although a tender was finalized and an order placed, the Finance Division has yet to release the PKR 2.9 billion needed to purchase the machine, causing a significant backlog.
The backlog once exceeded 1.5 million, but the Passport and Immigration Department, which generates PKR 50 to 51 billion annually, is still struggling to keep up with demand. Department officials expressed frustration, noting that they receive 72,000 to 75,000 applications daily but can only process 22,000.
Import restrictions have further complicated the situation, delaying the acquisition of essential equipment. Mustafa Jamal Qazi, Director General of Passport and Immigration, acknowledged the issue and said efforts are being made to resolve it. He added that around 700,000 to 800,000 passports have been issued from the backlog, but new applications continue to arrive.
The new machine, once procured, will double the current production capacity, allowing 40,000 to 42,000 passports to be printed daily. If the funds are released soon, the department aims to clear the backlog by November or December, ensuring faster passport issuance in the future.