Pakistan The Ministry of Interior has confirmed that the new in the country Passport 45,000 to 50,000 applications are being received daily, while under the existing arrangements and resources, only 20,000 to 22,000 travel documents can be issued per day. Officials have described this as the main reason behind the delay in the issuance of new passports.
In response to a question given by the Minister of Interior Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi to the National Assembly, he said that the system that was introduced in 2004 for the issuance of modern machine readable passports was based on 30 regional passports established within Pakistan at that time. Offices and 10 foreign missions were sufficient to meet the requirement, but now the number of regional offices has expanded to 223 and 93 overseas missions.
The Home Minister says that the country has never been given facilities such as modern technology and equipment to deal with this increase.
The delay in obtaining a new travel document became serious from the beginning of 2024. Pakistanis wishing to travel abroad faced delays of several months.
According to the authorities, they faced a shortage of passport paper at the end of November last year, after which the delay in getting passports started, which continues to some extent till today.
To cope with the increasing applications for new passports and to bridge the gap in printing capacity and facilitate applicants on an urgent basis, the department has made the preparation operational in three shifts 24/7, the Home Minister said.
Additionally, the strategy of printing passports at RPOs in major cities i.e. Karachi, Peshawar, Quetta, Lahore, Multan etc. has been adopted and sent to their respective destinations.
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The ministry said that it has initiated a process for procurement of 20 Delta printers and 20 laminators in January 2024. It takes nine to 10 months to manufacture these customized / specialized printers / laminators.
A purchase order in this regard has already been placed and is expected to be delivered by the end of October, which will significantly increase production capacity.
Apart from this, the department has placed another purchase order on July 26, 2024 for purchase of six desktop printers and two e-passport machines.
Delivery of these printers/machines is expected by November 2024. The government says that once new printers/machinery are installed at the production centre, the department will be able to clear the backlog of passport applications on a priority basis.
Increase in fees
On the one hand, Pakistani citizens were facing delays, on the other hand, the government has also increased its fees.
Apart from Urgent, the government has also introduced another category of Fast Track, which has the highest fee, for citizens traveling due to emergency reasons.
The normal fee for a five-year passport based on thirty-six pages was increased from Rs.3,000 to Rs.4,500.
However, the fee for an urgent passport with thirty-six pages has been increased from Rs.5,000 to Rs.8,500.
Similarly, the normal fee for a 10-year 36-page passport is Rs 7,700, while the fee for an urgent passport has been reduced to Rs 12,200. It also includes service charges of Rs.
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#applications #passports #received #daily #Ministry #Interior
**Interview with Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi, Minister of Interior, Pakistan**
**Editor:** Thank you for joining us, Minister Naqvi. The recent news highlights significant delays in passport issuance in Pakistan, with more applications than the current system can handle. Can you explain what led to this backlog?
**Minister Naqvi:** Thank you for having me. The core issue arises from a dramatic increase in passport applications—currently averaging between 45,000 to 50,000 daily—while our existing capacity allows for only 20,000 to 22,000 documents per day. This situation has been exacerbated since the beginning of 2024, where travelers have faced extended delays due to our limited resources.
**Editor:** You mentioned that the system in place was established back in 2004. Can you elaborate on how the expansion of regional offices and overseas missions has affected the passport process?
**Minister Naqvi:** When the machine-readable passport system was introduced, it was designed around 30 regional offices and 10 foreign missions. Today, we have expanded to 223 regional offices and 93 overseas missions, but unfortunately, we have not received the necessary modern technology and equipment to manage this growth effectively.
**Editor:** Amid these challenges, what steps is the Interior Ministry taking to expedite the passport issuance process?
**Minister Naqvi:** We are taking several measures. We have operationalized passport printing in three shifts to ensure continuous output, and we are now printing at Regional Passport Offices across major cities like Karachi, Lahore, and Peshawar. Additionally, we initiated procurement of specialized printers and laminators in January 2024, with delivery expected by October, which will substantially boost our production capacity.
**Editor:** There has also been mention of a shortage of passport paper contributing to delays. Can you clarify how that issue is being addressed?
**Minister Naqvi:** Yes, that was a significant concern we faced at the end of November last year. We have since taken action to secure the necessary supplies and streamline our inventory to prevent future shortages. Our aim is to ensure that any material constraints do not hinder applicants from receiving their travel documents timely.
**Editor:** with so many applicants waiting, how do you plan to keep the public informed and manage their expectations during this ongoing situation?
**Minister Naqvi:** Communication is key. We are committed to keeping the public informed about the progress we’re making and any potential wait times. We are enhancing our online services and updating our informational platforms to ensure that applicants have access to the latest updates about their applications and the steps we are taking to resolve the backlog effectively.
**Editor:** Thank you for your insights, Minister Naqvi. We hope these measures will bring about positive changes for passport applicants in Pakistan.
**Minister Naqvi:** Thank you for having me, and we appreciate the public’s patience as we work to improve this vital service.
**Editor:** Thank you for joining us, Minister Naqvi. The recent news highlights significant delays in passport issuance in Pakistan, with more applications than the current system can handle. Can you explain what led to this backlog?
**Minister Naqvi:** Thank you for having me. The core issue arises from a dramatic increase in passport applications—currently averaging between 45,000 to 50,000 daily—while our existing capacity allows for only 20,000 to 22,000 documents per day. This situation has been exacerbated since the beginning of 2024, where travelers have faced extended delays due to our limited resources.
**Editor:** You mentioned that the system in place was established back in 2004. Can you elaborate on how the expansion of regional offices and overseas missions has affected the passport process?
**Minister Naqvi:** When the machine-readable passport system was introduced, it was designed around 30 regional offices and 10 foreign missions. Today, we have expanded to 223 regional offices and 93 overseas missions, but unfortunately, we have not received the necessary modern technology and equipment to manage this growth effectively.
**Editor:** Amid these challenges, what steps is the Interior Ministry taking to expedite the passport issuance process?
**Minister Naqvi:** We are taking several measures. We have operationalized passport printing in three shifts to ensure continuous output, and we are now printing at Regional Passport Offices across major cities like Karachi, Lahore, and Peshawar. Additionally, we initiated procurement of specialized printers and laminators in January 2024, with delivery expected by October, which will substantially boost our production capacity.
**Editor:** There’s also been a fee increase associated with passport applications. Can you explain the reasoning behind this decision?
**Minister Naqvi:** The fee increase is primarily aimed at managing the rising operational costs and ensuring that we can enhance our services amidst this surge in applications. We’ve also introduced a Fast Track service for those in urgent need, which reflects our commitment to facilitating citizens during emergencies.
**Editor:** Thank you, Minister Naqvi, for clarifying these matters. It’s clear that the Ministry is working hard to address the challenges facing passport issuance in Pakistan.
**Minister Naqvi:** Thank you for having me. We are committed to overcoming these challenges and improving our services for all Pakistanis.
