Financial crisis increases passport printing problem in Pakistan

Delay in government funding for new advanced passport printing machines has led to a serious problem in Pakistan, where around 800,000 people are waiting for their passports, according to Daily Pakistan.

Despite placing orders and finalising tenders, the Finance Department is yet to release the required PKR 2.9 billion, resulting in a massive backlog, Daily Pakistan reported.

Though the backlog was over 1.5 million at one point, it has now reduced. However, according to Daily Pakistan, the Passport and Immigration Department, which earns 50 to 51 billion Pakistani rupees annually, is struggling to meet the demand due to a shortage of new machines.

Department officials expressed disappointment, saying that despite their significant revenue contribution, they have not received the funds required to meet the growing demand for passports.

“We receive 72,000 to 75,000 applications daily but are able to process only 22,000, leaving many applicants in a dilemma,” a senior official told Daily Pakistan on condition of anonymity.

The situation is further complicated by import restrictions, which hinder the acquisition of the crucial equipment. Although the legal procedures have been completed and the order placed, bureaucratic delays are hampering the procurement of the new machine. This delay has created considerable challenges for individuals in urgent need of passports; however, the department hopes that conditions will improve once the new equipment is installed, Daily Pakistan reported.

Meanwhile, another report by the Henley Passport Index shows that the Pakistani passport is ranked the fourth least favourable in the world for the fourth consecutive year.

The index ranks travel documents from 199 countries based on the number of destinations their holders can access without a prior visa requirement. Pakistan’s passport is tied with Yemen at 100th, granting visa-free access to 33 countries. This puts it above only Iraq (101), Syria (102) and Afghanistan (103), a ranking that remains unchanged from last year.