Pakistan's passport printing problem increases due to financial crisis

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 pending applications were 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 are hampering the procurement 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 ranked joint 100th with Yemen, granting visa-free access to 33 countries. This puts it above only Iraq (101), Syria (102) and Afghanistan (103), a ranking unchanged from last year.