On Monday, it came to light that an estimated 730,000 Pakistanis, whether residing within the country or abroad, have been enduring an extended wait for their passport issuance.
The underlying cause of this delay can be attributed to a deficiency of foreign currency reserves, specifically U.S. dollars within the country. This scarcity resulted in a delay in making timely payments to the contracted French company responsible for the provision of essential lamination papers required for passport production.
Read more:Delays in Passport Delivery: The Reasons Behind the Holdup
In response to this pressing crisis, the authorities have taken resolute action by placing an order for an additional 2 million lamination papers with the aforementioned French company. This endeavor commenced with the arrival of lamination papers adequate for the production of 1 million passports at the passport office on Friday.
With this vital supply in hand, the production process for the backlog of pending passports has been set into motion, signifying a significant step toward resolving the longstanding issue. As of now, plans are in place to process between 22,000 to 30,000 passports on a daily basis.
Projections indicate that the extensive backlog of over 700,000 passports is expected to be entirely cleared in the upcoming four weeks. Furthermore, by the conclusion of November, Pakistan is poised to receive an additional one million lamination papers, a pivotal component in expediting the passport issuance process. Additionally, there are expectations of receiving lamination papers for an additional million passports in December, as reported by 24 News.
In addition to these efforts, arrangements have been made to facilitate the payment for an extra two million lamination papers to the French company, assuring that the passport printing issue is addressed with swift and comprehensive measures taken by the relevant authorities.
Despite Pakistan’s passport being rated as one of the lowest-performing in the world, as per the Henley Passport Index, the document remains essential for travel abroad. Hence, the significant number of Pakistanis seeking passports highlights the importance of employment opportunities overseas.
The substantial emigration of Pakistanis has also spurred authorities to seek ways to enhance the country’s economy. The potential brain drain could pose a considerable future challenge if not addressed. Nevertheless, individuals from various professions, including students, entrepreneurs, businessmen, engineers, doctors, and more, are actively pursuing opportunities abroad in a bid to secure a brighter future.
