Passport processing delays shackle applicants from all over Pakistan

Passport processing stopped in October, 2023 as offices ran out of lamination paper. The Directorate General of Immigration & Passports promised earlier that the Lamination paper had arrived. However, despite the arrival of lamination paper, the backlog of applicants is too much for the passport offices to handle.

All major cities of Pakistan are gripped in extended passport processing time. The passport offices of Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Faisalabad, and Multan are gripped in this challenge. Due to this severe backlog created, normal processing time has surged to 2.5 months.

Despite citizens paying heavy urgent fees for their passports, the processing time has still not reduced.

Main cause of delayed passport processing

The main cause of this delay is the shortage of lamination paper in the last few weeks. DGI& P swiftly managed the situation and imported lamination paper. However, despite the import of lamination paper, the backlog is immense and even normal processing time has been severe now.

With the new times of 2.5 months, many individuals are at risk of losing the jobs they have secured. The requirement of necessary travel documents is the only hurdle standing in their way. This has led to several citizens being scammed by agents as they’re taking advantage of the situation by taking fees with the promise or urgent passport delivery.