The Directorate General (DG) of Immigration and Passport Office has urgently requested Customs authorities to clear consignments of ink cartridges to prevent a national passport printing crisis. Sources informed ProPakistani that the DG of Immigration and Passport Offices has written to the Collector of Customs, seeking clearance for production consumables/ink cartridges on a deferred payments basis.
Also Read: Affordable Plots Now Available Across Pakistan
The DG Immigration and Passport explained in the letter that due to a lack of funds or delays in processing claims related to customs duties and taxes, the department cannot timely clear these consignments, disrupting passport operations.
However, sources disputed this claim, revealing that the passport office spent over Rs. 60 million on building renovations last month and collected millions from approximately 600,000 recent passport applicants. Additionally, the directorate has notified the customs collectorate about an urgent ink cartridge consignment arriving at Islamabad International Airport on July 28, 2024, requiring immediate clearance.
Also Read: Imran Abbas: Lakeshore City Brand Ambassador Hits 9 Million Followers!
The vendor’s delay in dispatching the ink has caused a significant passport backlog, which could escalate into a national crisis. Around 6.4 million Pakistanis applied for new passports in the last fiscal year, marking a 61 percent increase from the previous year.
To avert any crises, the passport office has requested the Customs collectorate to release the consignment of production consumables on a deferred payment basis, committing to clear customs duties and taxes within 15 days of release.
Sources suggest that the passport office might be intentionally creating funding issues to advance their agenda of converting the Directorate’s status to an authority.
This development highlights the urgent need for Customs assistance from the DG Passports to address the impending passport printing crisis.
For more news and updates, visit the Al Sadat Marketing Website.
