Pakistan Faces Passport Delays: 800,000 People Waiting Due to Funding Issues
In Pakistan, a delay in government funding for a new advanced passport printing machine has created a severe problem, with approximately 800,000 people waiting for their passports. Despite placing an order and finalizing a tender, the Finance Division has not yet released the PKR 2.9 billion needed, resulting in a substantial backlog.
Although the backlog once exceeded 1.5 million, it has since been reduced. However, the Passport and Immigration Department, which generates between PKR 50 and 51 billion annually, is struggling to meet demand due to the lack of a new machine. Department officials have expressed frustration, highlighting that despite their significant revenue contributions, they have not received the necessary funds to address the rising demand for passports.
“We receive between 72,000 and 75,000 applications each day but can only process 22,000, leaving many applicants in limbo,” a senior official said on the condition of anonymity. The situation is further complicated by import restrictions that hinder the acquisition of crucial equipment. Although the legal processes are complete and an order has been placed, bureaucratic delays are obstructing the purchase of the new machine.
This delay has created considerable challenges for individuals in urgent need of passports; however, the department remains hopeful that conditions will improve once the new equipment is installed.
Meanwhile, another report by the Henley Passport Index indicates that for the fourth consecutive year, the Pakistani passport has ranked as the fourth least favorable in the world. This index ranks the travel documents of 199 countries based on the number of destinations their holders can access without prior visa requirements. Pakistan’s passport shares the 100th spot with Yemen, offering visa-free access to 33 countries. This positions it higher only than Iraq (101), Syria (102), and Afghanistan (103), a ranking that has remained unchanged from the previous year.
Doubts Revealed
Pakistan -: Pakistan is a country in South Asia, located next to India. It has a lot of people and a rich history.
Passport -: A passport is a small book that you need to travel to other countries. It has your photo and information about you.
Funding Issues -: Funding issues mean that the government does not have enough money to pay for something important, like a new machine.
Advanced passport printing machine -: This is a special machine that makes passports quickly and with better security features.
Revenue -: Revenue is the money that an organization or government earns from its activities, like fees for passports.
Passport and Immigration Department -: This is the part of the government that handles making passports and letting people enter or leave the country.
Import restrictions -: Import restrictions are rules that make it hard to bring things from other countries into Pakistan.
Bureaucratic delays -: These are slowdowns caused by too much paperwork and too many steps in the government process.
Visa-free access -: Visa-free access means you can visit a country without needing a special permission called a visa.