Passport crisis in country lingers on

By
Mamoona Feroz
-
54
255

Passport issuing authorities have failed in overcoming the severe crisis in the issuance of passports, as dozens of passport-seekers can still be seen standing in long queues at all passport offices across the country.

Though newly-appointed Passport Office Director General Zulfikar Cheema has made some arrangements for lamination papers to ease the pressure of the backlog, but it is still increasing day-by-day with over 900,000 applications still lying pending with the authorities.

“We receive around 20,000 applications on an average daily… while due to the shortage of lamination papers and other technical problems we can hardly issue 3,000 to 3,500 passports daily,” a senior officer said.

On a visit to the main Passport Office in G-8 Islamabad, the correspondent met dozens of passport seekers, who had been visiting the office to collect their passports for the last many months.

“I applied in January… initially I was told my passport will be issued in eight days, but I don’t know when I’ll be issued my document,” said Hasan Ahmed, who came from Faisalabad to receive his passport.

Ahmed, who wants to go to the Middle East in search of greener pastures, told Pakistan Today that he had been running from pillar to post since the last four months to get his passport, but to no avail.

Ali Nawaz, another seeker, said he applied for a passport two month ago, but it had still not been issued. “This is my third visit to this office… today I was told that my passport is in the final stage and will be issued on Monday.”

Those who have been visiting the Directorate since the past many months have penned their hopes on the newly-appointed DG.

The crisis started six months ago when some top bureaucrats, backed by important political figures, created an artificial shortage of lamination papers.

At that time, no heed was paid towards purchasing lamination papers but the authorities concerned had rather tried to get the passport office declared an autonomous body in the name of overcoming the crisis. However, the interim government shattered their dreams by appointing an upright and honest officer as the DG.

The new DG, Cheema, is known for his integrity and honesty. When asked, he said “operation cleansing” in the organisation was underway.

“As you know, I took charge of the office recently … but in this short spam of time I have taken several steps to improve the performance of my organisation.”

He said a helpline (0800-34477) had been set up to facilitate the people in this regard, adding that by calling the helpline, people could get themselves updated about the statuses of their passports.

“We have eliminated the tout mafia…now an operation is underway against the rotten eggs and those who had been appointed illegally. Let me make it clear, service delivery is improving day-by-day,” the DG added.

Cheema said the passport office was on the verge of being closed when he was given charge, “but now things have changed”.

He said special arrangements had been made to provide security-cleared lamination papers for at least 0.3 million passports.

The passport office recently got the prime minister’s approval for the purchase 1,500,000 lamination papers. However, the two main international companies, who provide lamination papers, are busy in litigation.

“Once the litigation process ends… we will manage to overcome this crisis,” the senior officer said.

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54 COMMENTS

    • haahaha, what a stupid reason.. we should stop blaming others for our internal and very personal issues… some of the bureaucrats are corrupt and all pakistanis are affecting worldwide due to some of the senseless pakistnis who loves money only.

  3. Zulifaqar cheema is die hard honest officer and quite misfit for this corrupt department where already grown up sharks and alligators have set their mafia system.We can hope the best for him and keep on praying for his success and security.

    • Yep. also as a police officer he serve for nation as a honest & work hard & reach DIG position.

  4. PLZ PLZ PLZ MAKE THIS PROCESS FAST SA SOON AS POSSIBLE AND ISSUE OUR PASSPORT AS U SAID THAT U WILL ISSUE IN 10 WORKING DAYS BUT NOW IT HAS BEEN 4 MONTHS I AM STILL WATING FOR MY PASSPORT
    SO NOW DISSOLVE IT AS SOON AS POSIBL

  5. Thanks Allah, today I have received my Passport. I applied for it on22nd Feb, 2013 with urgent fee. Thanks to the honest Office Mr. Zulifaqar Cheema DG.

  7. i applied my passport on 17/01/2013,and till the date i did not get it .in feb i got job offer from Dubai and by now i lost it as i had no passport to join the company .Thanks to all the coruption leaders in passport office and in our country.

  8. Oh God .l am shocked to read above comments. I recently submite an application for passport, that mean l will get it next year Ooop!

  9. I submitted Application for Hajj 2013. Please Issue My Passport Number. 10212235795 at an earlier so that, I perform Hajj, 2013.
    Thank you

  10. I applied my passport on 5/4/2013 from Gujrat .plz issue my passport.i will be thankfull to officials

  11. I applied my passport on 11/4/2013…plz plz let me know that when will get my passport.
    .i really need it…..

      • Please can you tell me if ring this number from Pakistan would I get information about what's happening to my passport please reply?

  12. VERY INCOMPETENT, CURE PT STAFF INVOLVED TOP TO BOTTOM MAKES WHOLE PAKISTAN SHAME. SHAME TO THE DECISION MAKERS, SHAME TO THOSE WHO MAKE THIS STUPID EXCUSE OF LAMINATION PAPER. SHAME TO THEM. THIS CORRUPT DEPARTMENT EARNING BILLIONS MONTHLY AND STILL NO SYSTEM.
    WE HAVE APPLIED ON 29TH JANUARY FOR PASSPORT, SHAMELESS PEOPLE COMMENT "ABI NAHI AYA HAI" how is existence of this department is justified.
    there is no update, no information is available for applicants, old, sick, students, employees, job seekers, all are stuck due to these corrupt persons. just think about it

  13. Well, Election & selection has been ended inocent pakistanis have been paid enoug monies to our corrupt politicians to support their elections activities I hope this BIG DRAMA MUST BE FINISHED

  14. i applied for my passport on 08-04-2013. humbly request to u tell me when will i get it? my token no. is 12301126535. kindly resolve this issue bcz lot of ppl r worried.

  15. khudara iss maslay ko solve karainhum ne ramazan main umray py jana hai plz plz plz is ko kisi tarha hal karain. bht log aap ko duain dain gy…………….zulfikar cheema sb hum ap ko nahi jantay aap ke honesty ka parha hai khuda k liye iss honesty ko prove karain Allah aap ko ajar dy ga…………hum duaa k ilawa kuch b nahi kar saktay k ALLAH PAAK humaray mulk py karam karay r tamam masaail ko hal kare. Ameen

  16. I have applied for renewal of my passport with ordinary fees on 19-03-2013. Could anyone tell me when I will get it. Anybody knows about ordinary paasports are being started to print after december 2012 or yet stopped .
    Pls any one tell me any solution to get my new passport within a week or so . I am much worried and I m hardly in need of passport. My visa is going to expire in second week of june 2013.
    Pls help me……….pls pls

    • dear amir u only hope from Allah b/c i applied in dec 2012 till date no passport for ordinary request

  19. i applied for my passport on 18 dec 2012,plz do something i want my passport i badly need my passport,if possible plz do let me know that when will i got my passport?

  20. passport office hyderabad ki bari bhut se afsosnak khabree gurdihs mee hain…jo ki iss idari ki huq me nahi…inn khabro me ye khabr bhi hai k rushwat deni se passport juld iz juld mill jata hai…phali aisa nahi thaa.lekin aise khabro ki wajha se ye idara budnam ho raha ..jis ki intazamia ko koi parwah nahi….umeed hai poassport ko waqt pur diya jaaiga..oor iss me koi rukawateen ho too un ko juld iz juld door kiya jai…awam ki saba ka imthan na liya jaai.tkx.

  21. Yar ab bun na shuru ho gye 6 June tak sab ko passport mil jaye ga q Ka papers issue ho gye hsin

  22. aoa mai ne 3 may ko passport bnny ko diya tha kiya ap mujy bts sakty hen k mujy kab tak passport mily ga plz

    • please take a serious action still some dog there who locking for the pocket of poor people tacking money for passport.

  26. 30-01-2013 ko jama karwayha, passports abbi tak nai milla. Sir Gigijanab kab tak milly ga.

    • sir greb admi hu sir khuch khary, sialkot k hu. jama hy sialkot passport office mi.

  28. Mein ne 14 may 2013 ko urgent pasport k lye aplie kya hai kab tak issue ho jaye ga?

  29. I have applied for ordinary passport dated May 2013 pleas tell me when i will get my passport?

  30. I have applied for ordinary passport on 12 april 2013 , when it will issu pleas tell me Thanks

  31. had hti hai itny leazy hain hm pakistani hm 4 months sy w8 kr rhy hain but koi khabar nahi hai

  32. i applied for my passport on 2nd january 2013.could anyone tell me wen i will get it.i m much upset about my passport.is there nothing any deptt.in pakistan jo honestly kam karay.

  33. I,and wife had applied for fresh passport for hajj purpose on 18th Feb,all our hajj documents are complete but our passports are still in pipeline, what should we do ?

  36. zulfiqae sahab 4 month o jae ga aftr 1 week kb mile ga passport… sirf khana e hai ya kch krna b hai…

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