The Interior Ministry has reported a remarkable increase in passport applications, with daily submissions reaching between 45,000 and 50,000. However, existing resources can only accommodate the issuance of 20,000 to 22,000 passports each day, leading to massive delays.
Officials attribute these setbacks to limited capacity and outdated infrastructure. Interior Minister Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi informed the National Assembly that the passport system, which was implemented in 2004, was once adequate but is now under strain due to the expansion of regional offices from 30 to 223 and an increase in foreign missions from 10 to 93. Unfortunately, modern technological upgrades have not kept pace with this growing demand.
The situation worsened late last year due to a passport paper shortage, resulting in applicants facing wait times of several months. In response to this backlog, the department has adopted a 24/7 operational model with three shifts, and passport printing has been decentralized to regional offices in key cities, including Karachi, Peshawar, Quetta, Lahore, and Multan.
To enhance production capacity, the ministry is in the process of acquiring 20 Delta printers and 20 laminators, which are expected to arrive by October 2024. Additionally, orders for desktop printers and e-passport machines are scheduled for delivery by November 2024. Officials are optimistic that these technological upgrades will help accelerate processing times and reduce waiting periods for new passport applicants.
