Passport Delays in Islamabad Causing Frustration and Anxiety
A significant number of citizens in Islamabad are facing delays in receiving their passports, some waiting for up to two months instead of the expected 21 days processing time. This delay has impacted individuals with urgent medical needs, students planning to study abroad, and professionals seeking work visas.
Despite paying expedited fees for urgent service, many applicants are still waiting for their passports, causing heightened frustration and anxiety. The inefficiency in the passport issuance process has led to severe consequences for many individuals.
One such affected individual, Abdullah, shared his experience of missing an interview opportunity in Qatar due to the passport delay. Similarly, Imran Shehzad, a lecturer, was unable to present his research paper at a conference in the US due to the delay in passport renewal.
The situation has drawn attention from Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, who has directed staff to expedite passport printing. However, the affected applicants continue to wait anxiously for the resolution of their passport delays.
Efforts are underway to address the delays and provide relief to the impacted individuals as they navigate through this challenging process.
Published in Dawn, June 15th, 2024