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Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi announced on Sunday that the federal government has taken the decision to operate at least one passport office round the clock in both Lahore and Karachi.
This initiative aims to provide greater convenience to the public, wrote Minister Naqvi in a social media post on X.
The move is set to revolutionize passport services by offering accessibility beyond standard working hours. Residents of Lahore and Karachi will benefit from the flexibility to avail passport services at their convenience, thus mitigating the challenges posed by time constraints.
Moreover, the establishment of 24/7 passport offices is expected to alleviate the strain on existing facilities, leading to reduced waiting times for applicants. This proactive step by the government is poised to cater to a wider demographic, including individuals with commitments that prevent them from visiting during regular office hours.
While the specific locations and operational details of these 24/7 passport offices are yet to be disclosed, the federal government has initiated the procurement of printing and e-passport machines to address the backlog of over 800,000 pending passports. Presently, authorities are printing 20,000 to 25,000 passports daily, while facing an influx of 40,000 to 45,000 applications per day.
The decision to issue international tenders for the acquisition of lamination paper underscores the government’s commitment to expediting passport issuance processes, responding to grievances voiced by applicants regarding significant delays.