Passport Printing Crisis
The passport printing crisis in Pakistan has worsened significantly as the country faces a critical shortage of ink, compounding the earlier shortage of lamination paper.
This latest issue has intensified the existing backlog of passport applications, leading to even longer delays for citizens awaiting their passports.
Sources indicate that the supply of ink required for passport printing has run out, which has further disrupted the production process.
A new batch of ink is expected to arrive in Islamabad on July 28, but there are concerns about delays in clearing this consignment from customs.
The backlog of passport applications continues to grow, exacerbating the delays faced by applicants.
The Director General (DG) of Passports has addressed the issue by sending a letter to Customs authorities, urging them to expedite the clearance of the ink shipment.
The letter outlines that significant delays have occurred due to a lack of funds and non-payment of customs duties and taxes, which have impeded the timely clearing of consignments.
The DG highlights that these delays are severely impacting the productivity of passport printing operations.
In the letter, the DG requests that the Customs department prioritize the clearance of the upcoming ink shipment and assures that payments to Customs will be settled within 15 days of the shipment’s clearance.
The DG also suggests that the ink shipment be cleared on a deferred payment basis to alleviate the immediate backlog and restore normal passport printing operations.
The situation remains dire as the extended delay in clearing the ink consignment threatens to prolong the waiting period for passport applicants.
This prolonged delay has already caused significant frustration among citizens, who are facing an increasingly extended wait time due to the ongoing crisis.
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