Applicants in Pakistan, whether applying for normal or urgent category passports, are experiencing significant delays due to a slow printing process caused by technical issues.
For instance, one applicant who applied for a normal passport in Lahore in early January 2024 has not yet received it as of April 26, causing stress as they have limited time to travel for work.
Another applicant mentioned that they applied for a normal passport in December 2023 and are still waiting.
When contacted, Assistant Director Tanveer from the passport office in Lahore explained that the department is overwhelmed with a large number of fast-track applications, leading to delays in processing normal passports. The daily printing capacity is 25,000 to 30,000 passports, with priority given to fast-track and urgent applications.
Tanveer recommended using fast-track or urgent services for quicker processing, acknowledging that normal passport issuance is taking four to five months. He also advised using online services for passport renewals to avoid office visits.
An applicant suggested that the government should allocate printing quotas for each passport category to ensure timely processing. The data entry operator at Lahore’s passport office added that despite generating substantial revenue, they often face delays due to paper shortages.
As per the current situation:
- Normal passport delivery in Pakistan is taking over four months due to printing capacity issues.
- Urgent passport delivery, as per the official website, takes 5 days, although regional offices indicate it might take up to 15 days.
