In a recent development, the Directorate General of Immigration and Passports has unequivocally refuted recent reports suggesting delays in passport printing, labeling them as unfounded. The official spokesperson released a statement assuring the public that the passport issuance process in Pakistan has fully resumed normal operations following the acquisition of essential lamination paper.
Dismissive of what was termed as “fake news” circulating on social media, the spokesperson highlighted the expedited processing times. Urgent category passports now printed within three days, while urgent ones processed in five days, marking a significant improvement.
The statement emphasized that regular passports consistently printed within a month, attributing this return to efficiency to the procurement of a substantial quantity of lamination paper crucial for passport production.
Addressing challenges faced in passport printing earlier, the Interior Ministry took swift action in October, deploying supplementary machinery and personnel to expedite the process. In response to the directive from the caretaker interior minister, the Directorate General of Immigration and Passports successfully obtained the necessary lamination papers, initiating a focused effort to eliminate the backlog of 700,000 unprinted passports.
Reports from ARY News Urdu underscored the government’s commitment to resolving the issue promptly. The efforts to overcome the shortage included the deployment of additional machinery and staff, showcasing a dedicated approach to rectifying the situation.
The official statement concluded by assuring the public that the passport printing process is now operating efficiently, dispelling any misconceptions about ongoing delays. This update brings clarity to the situation, underscoring the government’s proactive measures to address and resolve the challenges faced in passport issuance.
