ISLAMABAD: The Directorate General of Immigration and Passports has been working brief of lamination paper ensuing in delay in issuance of passports to folks many of whom have their visas expired on account of lengthy hole.

Excessive complaints have poured in in opposition to the directorate for the inordinate delay in issuing passports to candidates compelling the latter to strategy the federal ombudsman for intervention to resolve the difficulty.

Taking discover of complaints, the Federal Ombudsman Ejaz Ahmad Qureshi on Monday despatched an inspection workforce comprising of senior officers to the passport workplace to verify causes for the delay.

The administration of the Directorate General of Immigration and Passports knowledgeable the visiting inspection workforce that the printing of passports received delayed on account of non-availability of lamination paper.

They assured the inspection workforce that the backlog shall be cleared quickly because the lamination paper was now in hand. The inspection workforce suggested the administration to make sure the well timed procurement of lamination paper in future in order that the candidates don’t face this drawback once more.

The administration was additionally suggested to make sure the issuance of passports throughout the prescribed time-frame. The inspection workforce additional suggested the administration of the directorate to refund the price charged for pressing passports in case of late supply.

Meanwhile, Wafaqi Mohtasib additionally directed secretary inside to take inventory of the working of the Directorate General of Immigration and Passports in a complete method to make sure environment friendly supply of providers in future.

The inspection workforce mentioned in element the complete course of of issuing passports in order to determine the causes of inordinate delay and breakdown of environment friendly supply of providers in the Passport Office.

The workforce additionally interviewed a big quantity of individuals who had come to get their passports in the Passport Offices positioned in G-8 and G-10 sectors. The workforce was knowledgeable by the candidates that they’ve been visiting the Passport Office to gather their paperwork since many months and their visas stood expired in the meantime.

The inspection workforce on arrival at G-10 Passport Office noticed tons of of candidates ready to gather their journey paperwork. The lack of correct seating preparations was inflicting additional agony to the guests. The inspection workforce will submit its report based mostly on its suggestions for the consideration of the Wafaqi Mohtasib inside one week.

Published in Dawn, November twenty first, 2023