Senator Waqar Mehdi, Special Assistant to the Chief Minister of Sindh and General Secretary of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Sindh, has strongly condemned the federal government’s recent decision to hike passport fees, labeling the move as a severe injustice to the public and demanding its immediate reversal. Senator Mehdi expressed his discontent with the significant increase in passport costs, which have risen by as much as Rs 27,000.
The hike applies to various categories, including e-passports, Machine- Readable Passports (MRP), and replacements for lost passports. Additionally, a new penalty of up to Rs 300,000 for lost passports has been introduced. Mehdi warned that this surge in fees would only add to the financial strain on the public and further empower agent mafias to exploit citizens.
“The government’s decision seems to be more about generating revenue than addressing any legitimate policy need. This increase in fees will only serve to burden the people, who are already struggling with inflation, unemployment, and poverty,” Mehdi remarked. He urged the federal government to reconsider its stance and prioritize relief for the people rather than imposing additional hardships. Senator Mehdi called on the federal government to reverse the passport fee hikes, taking into account the ongoing economic challenges faced by citizens.
