The malfunctioning server at the Multan passport office has led to a surge in problems for citizens, exacerbating their frustrations.
Despite the efforts of the immigration director general to address the issues, including actions taken against mafia elements and arrests of employees and agents, the situation remains unresolved.
Long queues have become a common sight at the passport office, with citizens travelling from distant areas only to be met with disappointment due to the non-functional server. The inability to access passport services has left many worried, particularly those who urgently require their passports for various purposes.
Three employees, including 12 agents, have been arrested for receiving excess money.
Meanwhile, in Lahore, efforts to expedite the passport issuance process, such as paying urgent fees, have not yielded results for many applicants, with some reporting delays of up to four months in receiving their document. Technical issues, including a shortage of lamination paper and printing capacity, have further compounded the delays for the normal passport applicants.
Despite assurances from officials, citizens feel disheartened as they continue to face uncertainty regarding the status of their passport applications. There is no mechanism devised to inform the public about the delay in delivery of passports.
There is a growing demand for the government to implement measures to ensure timely passport acquisition and provide transparency about the delays.
According to immigration and passport officials, the system has been affected due to the doubling of demand for passports and a lack of printing capacity last year.
As frustrations mount, there is a pressing need for authorities to address the server outage promptly and implement measures to streamline passport services, providing relief to the citizens of Multan and ensuring their access to essential documentation without undue delays.
