Passport printing operations have been reinstated nationwide following a week-long halt due to a lamination paper shortage.
The disruption had led to a backlog of 700,000 unprinted passports, causing considerable inconvenience for citizens in need of travel documents.
The Directorate General of Immigration & Passports (DGI&P) has successfully resolved the lamination paper issue, with the timely intervention of Minister For Interior, Sarfaraz Bugti.
An order for lamination paper has been received, and in an effort to expedite passport issuance, the Interior Ministry has deployed additional machinery and staff.
In an official press release, the DGI&P announced the resumption of passport printing, highlighting the removal of technical hurdles that had previously hampered the process.
The Directorate is committed to ensuring the prompt delivery of travel documents and, in this regard, will continue the printing process even on Saturdays and Sundays. Notably, the passport office timings across the country have been revised to enhance efficiency.
Under the new schedule, passport offices will be operational from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM during the first four days of the week, enabling greater accessibility to citizens. However, on Fridays, offices will close earlier, at 12:30 PM.
This significant development comes as a relief to the 700,000 individuals who were awaiting their passports, ensuring that travel plans can now proceed as scheduled. With the resolution of the lamination paper shortage and the commitment of the Interior Ministry, the passport issuance process is expected to regain full momentum, benefitting citizens in need of travel documents.
