Pakistani Passport Nightmare: Shortage of Lamination Paper Causes Chaos and Delays Nationwide

 Pakistani citizens are facing significant challenges in obtaining new passports, as a shortage of lamination paper has caused delays in passport issuance, according to multiple news reports. The lamination paper used in passports is imported from France, and the limited supply has resulted in a nationwide shortage of travel documents. The shortage has affected thousands of individuals, including students with looming admission deadlines and people who have planned to travel abroad for work.

Many individuals are blaming the inefficiency of the Directorate General of Immigration & Passports (DGI&P), a department of the Ministry of Interior, for the crisis. The mismanagement of DGI&P has been criticized for jeopardizing the dreams and opportunities of various Pakistani citizens. In response, Qadir Yar Tiwana, the Director General for Media of the Ministry of Interior, assured the public that the government is actively addressing the situation, and passport issuance is expected to return to normal soon.

However, many individuals remain skeptical of these assurances, citing long delays in passport processing and a lack of transparency from the passport office. Regional passport offices are also struggling to address the backlog, processing significantly fewer passports per day compared to previous capacities. Overall, this is not the first time that such a crisis has occurred in Pakistan, as a similar halt in passport printing occurred in 2013. The shortage of lamination paper highlights the need for better management and planning within the DGI&P to ensure the smooth issuance of passports in the future.