The Interior Ministry has announced that Pakistan receives 45,000 to 50,000 passport applications daily. However, current resources only allow for the issuance of 20,000 to 22,000 passports each day.
Officials cite limited capacity and outdated infrastructure as the main reasons for the delays. Interior Minister Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi explained to the National Assembly that the system introduced in 2004 is no longer adequate. The number of regional offices has expanded from 30 to 223, while foreign missions have grown from 10 to 93, but technological upgrades have not kept pace with the increasing demand.
Delays worsened last year due to a passport paper shortage, resulting in months-long waiting times for applicants. To tackle the backlog, the department now operates 24/7 in three shifts, and passport printing has been decentralized to major cities, including Karachi, Peshawar, Quetta, Lahore, and Multan.
To boost production capacity, the department plans to procure 20 Delta printers and 20 laminators by October 2024, with additional orders for desktop printers and e-passport machines expected by November 2024. Officials believe that this upgraded equipment will help speed up processing and reduce waiting times for new passport applicants.
