Pakistan Improves Passport Issuance Process with New Machinery and Mega Centers

Islamabad:Every year, a large number of Pakistanis travel abroad for various reasons such as Hajj, Umrah, tourism, education, or employment. Since possessing a passport is a fundamental requirement for international travel, many people apply for passports annually. However, due to a shortage of printing machines and passport paper last year, the process of issuing passports faced significant delays, leading to a backlog of approximately 800,000 passports.

The large-scale delay in passport issuance caused severe inconvenience for citizens. In response, the government procured new machinery to expedite the process. According to the Ministry of Interior, last year, around 45,000 to 50,000 passport applications were received daily, but only 20,000 to 22,000 passports were being produced. This resulted in delays of 2 to 3 days for fast-track and urgent passports, while normal passports took several months to be issued. Typically, fast-track passports were issued in two days, urgent passports within 5 business days, and normal passports took 21 business days.

The Ministry of Interior reported that the process has now been accelerated. Last October, only 8 out of 30 printing machines were operational, but the addition of 15 new printers and laminators has allowed for the issuance of up to 55,000 passports per day. Furthermore, 10 additional printers, 6 desktop printers, and 2 e-passport machine stations have been ordered, which are expected to be available by the end of this month.

Citizens who have recently applied for passports shared their experiences with media outlets. They reported that normal passports are now being issued within 25 days to one month, urgent passports within 5 to 7 days, and fast-track passports in just two days.

To further facilitate citizens, the government has also inaugurated NADRA Mega Centers in Islamabad and Karachi, where passport applications can be submitted 24/7. In addition, similar centers will be established in 14 cities, including Lahore, Islamabad, and Karachi, to address the high volume of passport applications and ease congestion at passport offices. These new centers are aimed at streamlining the process and improving the overall experience for applicants.