The National Assembly of Pakistan discussed the pressing issue of delays in Pakistani passport issuance on Tuesday. The discussion was initiated by a call attention notice from Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) member Aga Rafiullah, highlighting the concerns of citizens facing difficulties in obtaining passports.
Minister for Law and Justice Azam Nazir Tarar acknowledged the delays and assured the assembly that the government is working to expedite the process. He attributed the delays to an unprecedented demand for passports, with 44,000 applications being received daily, while only 25,000 to 26,000 passports are being issued daily.
Tarar informed the assembly that software updates are underway to increase the daily issuance capacity to 60,000 by September. He admitted that the delays were “extraordinary” and assured that the government is addressing the concerns raised by citizens.
Earlier reports indicated that passport applicants faced delays due to a shortage of black ink required for printing. The passport office had requested the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to expedite the clearance of a shipment of black ink, warning of a potential printing crisis if the shipment was not cleared.
The passport office also requested the FBR to defer tax payments on the import of the ink, which had contributed to the shipment’s delay. The government’s efforts to resolve the issue are a step in the right direction, and citizens can expect relief soon.
The delays in passport issuance have caused inconvenience to many citizens, particularly those who need to travel abroad for education, work, or medical purposes. The government’s prompt attention to this issue is essential to ensure that citizens can obtain passports without unnecessary delays.
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