Islamabad, 18 Aug, 2023 (GNP): Following Islamabad, the process of issuing e-passports has begun throughout the nation. This service enables residents to have their travel documents created from the convenience of their homes.
The Directorate General of Immigration and Passports has issued the fee schedule for e-passports. As per the schedule, the fee for a 36-page e-passport that will be valid for five years has been allocated Rs 9,000. Similarly, the fee for an urgent e-passport has been assigned Rs 15,000.
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Moreover, Rs 16,500 will be demanded as a normal fee for a 72-page e-passport and Rs 27,000 will be charged for an urgent one. Rs 13,500 will be asked as a usual charge for a 36-page e-passport that is valid for 10 years but if an individual requested the same e-passport on a basis of urgency, the payment will be Rs 22,500.
Furthermore, a standard fee for a 72-page e-passport with a 10-year validity is Rs 24,750 and an urgent fee for the same is Rs 40,500 in the schedule. According to the schedule, standard passport fees remain unchanged. The fees have come into effect from 16 August.
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Reportedly, the Pakistanis are facing delays in getting their passports again. Receiving a normal passport takes more than a month instead of 10 days. Likewise, an urgent passport is delivered in 15 days instead of five. Additionally, fast-track passport delivery is taking place in five days rather than two.
However, the cause of the delay in passport delivery has been said to be an unusual escalation in the number of applicants. The tally of applications for passports has raised to 40,000 regularly rather than its routine extent of between 24,000 and 26,000 in the past.
The printing time has been increased to 24 hours without any day off for the employees to curtail further delay in the delivery of passports.
