In a peculiar twist of fate, Pakistani citizens seeking fresh passports find themselves ensnared in a nationwide conundrum – a shortage of lamination paper. This scarcity, reportedly stemming from a delay in payment to printers and a shortfall of lamination materials, has left thousands stranded in their pursuit of travel documents essential for education, employment, and leisure.
The repercussions of this shortage are felt acutely by students, such as Hira, whose approved visas for academic endeavors in the UK and Italy hang in the balance due to the unavailability of passports. The situation has instilled fear among many, as the protracted waiting period jeopardizes their opportunities and aspirations.
Importing lamination paper from France, Pakistan previously grappled with a similar predicament in 2013, attributed to financial challenges faced by The Directorate General of Immigration & Passports (DGI&P). Qadir Yar Tiwana, Director General for Media of the Ministry of Interior, has assured citizens that the government is actively working to rectify the crisis promptly, asserting that passport issuance will soon return to normalcy.
However, discontent brews among residents who claim to have received misleading messages from DGI&P regarding passport readiness, only to be turned away upon reaching the passport office. Muhammad Imran from Peshawar recounts the recurrent disappointment, emphasizing the repeated delays in passport delivery.
As the impasse continues, passport offices across Pakistani cities remain uncertain about when the issuance process will recommence. A senior officer at the Peshawar passport office revealed a stark decline in daily processing capacity, from thousands to a mere dozen passports per day. The speculated wait time, according to sources, could extend for another month or two, exacerbating the frustration of those eagerly awaiting their essential travel documents.
In the face of this bureaucratic bottleneck, the affected citizens remain in limbo, their aspirations hanging in the balance as they grapple with an unforeseen obstacle to their mobility.
