The backlog of unprinted passports has reached 600,000 in an Islamabad passport office as the printing of urgent and normal passports has come to a halt due to the unavailability of the lamination paper which is yet to be imported despite the assurance of the interior ministry.
The urgent passports, that are available within a week, could not be printed for two months due to the lack of the lamination paper.
People who intend to perform Umrah have also been faced with difficulties due to the passport backlog.
Those who intend to go abroad on work visas and the students going abroad for study have also been faced with difficulties due to the passport backlog.
The interior ministry had assured to start the printing of passports on Monday last.
The interior minister had also asked the passport director general to resolve the issue immediately.
Informed sources have said that the purchase of the lamination paper has been completed, and it is yet to come to Pakistan.
The printing of passports will start within 24 hours of receiving the lamination paper.
The sources have also said that the passport office is likely to receive the lamination paper within the next 48 hours
