In Islamabad, a significant number of citizens are compelled to travel from one place to another to obtain passports, experiencing delays of up to two months, despite the official processing time being 21 days. This situation has created considerable difficulties, particularly for students seeking admission to foreign universities, individuals going abroad for work, and patients needing urgent medical treatment overseas.
The passport delay has severely impacted those applying for passports. Many people, despite paying the ‘urgent’ fee, have not received their passports within the promised time frame. The urgency of their needs highlights the critical nature of these delays. Students applying to foreign universities face the risk of missing admission deadlines, which could jeopardize their academic futures. For those going abroad for work, the delays can result in lost job opportunities and financial instability. Patients needing urgent medical treatment are perhaps the most severely affected, as their health and well-being depend on timely travel for medical procedures.
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The report indicates that the backlog and inefficiencies in the passport issuance process have forced citizens to undertake additional travel and endure extended waiting periods. This not only adds financial strain but also causes significant stress and inconvenience. The authorities have acknowledged the delays but have not yet provided a satisfactory resolution to expedite the processing of passport applications.
Despite paying additional fees for expedited service, many applicants have not received their passports promptly. The failure to deliver passports on time, even with the urgent fee, has led to frustration and anxiety among those affected.
The situation underscores the need for immediate improvements in the passport issuance system to ensure timely service delivery. The authorities must address the backlog and streamline the process to meet the official 21-day processing time, thereby alleviating the burden on citizens who rely on prompt passport issuance for critical personal, academic, and professional reasons.
