Passport and Immigration Office is clearing backlog of 0.2 million passports as the department has been released funds required for printing of booklets. The delay in issuance of passports was causing hardships for applicants who have to wait for long to get their travelling document delivered but thanks to Minister for Interior, Rehman Malik who personally took interest in getting the funds from Ministry of Finance to facilitate the passport aspirants.

When contacted, a senior official on Monday highlighted the steps and said the issuance of passports was delayed as Pakistan Security Printing Corporation (PSPC), Karachi reduced the supply of passport booklets due to non-payment of their outstanding dues on account of printing of passport booklets and other travel documents.

The Passport Office administration has been trying to clear outstanding dues of PSPC and arrears have since been cleared to some extent. For payment of remaining dues, the matter has been taken up with Finance Division for seeking approval for 100 per cent payment out of sanctioned budget allocations in relaxation of limit fixed on quarterly basis so as to clear the outstanding liabilities and restoration of normal supply of passport booklets.

He said now Minister for Interior has directed the passport office to settle outstanding accounts with PSPC and ensure early clearance of backlog for which the Department is engaged to observe normal schedule of delivery of passports to the applicants.

Copyright Associated Press of Pakistan, 2012