MULTAN: The Directorate General of Immigration and Passports has reached out to the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to expedite the clearance of a consignment of ink cartridges to prevent a mounting crisis in passport production, particularly affecting citizens in South Punjab.
In a letter sent to the FBR, the Directorate highlighted the urgency of the situation, stating that the vendor has already caused a delay, and the consignment is now expected to arrive at Islamabad International Airport.
The Directorate emphasized that the current stock of printing ink has been exhausted, and without immediate clearance, the passport production process will come to a halt, exacerbating the backlog of undelivered passports across the country.
The Directorate’s letter further stated that any further delay in the clearance of this essential consignment would lead to a “national crisis.” The letter requests that the consignment be cleared on a deferred payment basis to avoid disruptions, as passport operations, especially in the crucial region of South Punjab, are at a standstill.
For citizens in South Punjab, this delay is causing significant inconvenience, with many people who have paid extra for urgent processing left waiting for months to receive their passports. The region, known for its large number of overseas workers, relies heavily on timely passport issuance for job opportunities abroad. Delays in passport production have a direct impact on the livelihoods of many families, particularly those whose members work in the Middle East and other foreign countries.
The Directorate also cited the ongoing issue of delays in customs duty processing, which often prevents timely clearance of consignments and disrupts the flow of production consumables. This is not only impacting the efficiency of passport issuance but also creating a backlog that further burdens the public, especially in South Punjab where many individuals are waiting for their travel documents.
In a bid to resolve the issue, the Directorate has promised to clear the customs duties and taxes on the consignment within 15 days, ensuring that the printing process can resume without further delay. However, if the consignment is not cleared promptly, it is feared that the backlog of undelivered passports will continue to grow, creating further hardships for citizens in South Punjab and across the country.
The authorities have urged the FBR to act swiftly in the public interest, ensuring that essential supplies like printing ink are cleared without delay to avoid exacerbating the passport crisis that is affecting thousands of citizens in South Punjab.
