Tag: Pakistani passport

  • Pakistani passport once again least powerful

    Pakistani passport once again least powerful

    Henley & Partners‘ Passport Index has published a list portraying the world’s travel access hierarchy.

    Top on the list of countries that encourage travelling are France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Singapore, and Spain, whose citizens can visit an astounding 194 destinations without requiring arduous visa procedures. This group of countries offer passport-to-plane experience, setting the bar high for unmatched worldwide mobility.

    With access to 193 locations, Finland, South Korea, and Sweden share second place. Many visa-free or visa-on-arrival options are available to their well-travelled inhabitants, providing access to a variety of cultures and environments.

    Austria, Denmark, Ireland, and the Netherlands take third place with access to 192 destinations. These nations serve as entry points to a wide range of travel opportunities.

    The long list goes on, honouring countries that place a high priority on global connection. Among the notable entries are the United States, Canada, Greece, Switzerland, and New Zealand, all of which provide their inhabitants with an abundance of travel options.

    On the other hand, the Passport Index identifies states with more limited travel options. Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq, and Pakistan are among the least accessible, offering their passport holders entry to just 34 countries that require no visa or one upon arrival.

    The London-based company, which offers residency and citizenship consultancy services, teamed together with the International Air Transport Association to create a unique ranking that takes into account passport holders’ access to countries without a visa or with one upon arrival.

  • Why aren’t you getting your passport?

    Why aren’t you getting your passport?

    Numerous complaints have been filed against the Directorate General of Immigration and Passports, citing prolonged waiting periods for passport issuance, leading frustrated applicants to seek intervention from the federal ombudsman.

    Responding to the increasing complaints, Federal Ombudsman Ejaz Ahmad Qureshi acted on Monday by dispatching an inspection team comprising senior officials to assess the situation at the passport office and identify the reasons for the delays.

    During the inspection, the administration of the Directorate General of Immigration and Passports explained to the visiting team that the delay in printing passports was due to the unavailability of lamination paper.

    They assured the team that the backlog would be swiftly cleared as they now had an adequate supply of lamination paper.

    The inspection team recommended that the administration ensure timely procurement of lamination paper in the future to prevent a recurrence of the issue.

    They also advised the administration to adhere to the prescribed timeframe for passport issuance and, in cases of late delivery, refund the fees charged for urgent passport processing.

    Simultaneously, the Federal Ombudsman directed the secretary interior to comprehensively assess the functioning of the Directorate General of Immigration and Passports to ensure more efficient service delivery in the future.

    The inspection team discussed in detail the entire process of issuing passports to ascertain the causes of inordinate delay and breakdown of efficient delivery of services in the Passport Office.

    The team also interviewed many people who had come to get their passports in the Passport Offices located in the G-8 and G-10 sectors in Islamabad.

    The team was informed by the applicants that they had been visiting the Passport Office to collect their documents for many months and their visas had expired in the meantime.

    The inspection team on arrival at G-10 Passport Office observed hundreds of applicants waiting to collect their travel documents. The lack of proper seating arrangements was causing further agony to the visitors.

    The inspection team will submit its report based on its recommendations for the consideration of the Federal Ombudsman within one week.

  • Sardiyon mein Passport office kab jaein?

    Sardiyon mein Passport office kab jaein?

    The Directorate General of Immigration and Passports has revealed operational hours for passport offices nationwide during winter.

    From Monday to Thursday, passport offices will be open to the public from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM, while on Fridays, the timing will be adjusted from 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM.

    The schedule will be followed in all regional passport offices, executive passport offices, and service counters which will be processing passport applications and facilitating passport issuance.

  • Passport delivery delayed due to shortage of ‘lamination paper’

    Passport delivery delayed due to shortage of ‘lamination paper’

    People waiting for their new passports will have to wait a bit longer. The Directorate General of Immigration & Passport has reportedly run out of lamination papers for new passports.

    As per Samaa, sources have said that the relevant authorities did not take timely measures to ensure a sufficient supply of lamination paper. Last week, there was no improvement in the supply chain, and there is now a fear that the printing and delivery of new passports will be affected across the country.

    One of the immediate consequences of the lamination paper shortage is an expected increase in the duration of passport delivery. For instance, the delivery of passports with a normal fee will likely be extended to approximately one month. This delay poses significant challenges for applicants across the country, especially those with urgent travel plans.

    Despite the alleged non-availability of lamination paper, the passport department continues to accept new applications, further fueling concerns that the number of pending passports will surge due to printing problems.

    As of now, the passport department has not issued an official statement on the matter, leaving many in the dark about when the shortage of lamination paper will be resolved and how long the delays will persist.

    The shortage of lamination paper is causing substantial disruptions in passport issuance, and it is vital for the authorities to swiftly address this issue and keep the public informed about their efforts to resolve the problem. The impact of this situation on individuals urgently needing to travel for various reasons underscores the urgency of resolving the issue promptly to minimize inconvenience for applicants.

  • You won’t get your ‘normal passport’ in 10 days anymore

    You won’t get your ‘normal passport’ in 10 days anymore

    New guidelines have been notified by The Directorate General of Immigration and Passports (DGIP) regarding the issuance of travel documents, stating that a normal passport will now be issued in 21 days which was earlier processed in 10 days, as per Geo News.

    The DGIP noted that criminal elements are trying to undermine the Pakistani Passport and the department observed illegal use, which has made it difficult to issue a passport on time, the directorate mentioned without elaborating further on the matter.
    As a result, the passport-issuing authority has increased caution and scrutiny in the process.

    However, there’s no change in the timeline for urgent and most urgent passports which are issued in 5 and 2 working days respectively.

    The DGIP also advised people to visit relevant passport offices between 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., urging people to cooperate with the directorate, adding that in case of any difficulties related to obtaining a passport, they must file a complaint in the Citizen Portal.

    It’s worth noting that in April of this year, the delivery times for all three passport categories—normal, urgent, and fast-track—were reduced to 10 days, 4 days, and 2 days, respectively.

  • You can’t get 100-page passports now

    You can’t get 100-page passports now

    The government has announced a temporary suspension on the issuance of passports with 100 pages. A statement issued by the Passport office expresses regret for the inconvenience and clarifies that this decision is part of the Directorate General (DG) of Immigration and Passports’ plan to introduce electronic passports (e-passports) nationwide.

    The transition initially began in Islamabad and has since been extended to all passport offices across the country following the federal government’s introduction of e-passports in June.

    As of August 16, 2023, new fee schedules have been implemented for e-passports, while fees for standard passports will remain unchanged.

    Here are the updated fee details for e-passports:

    1. For a standard 36-page passport valid for 5 years, the cost is set at Rs. 9,000.
    2. An urgent e-passport option is available for Rs. 15,000.
    3. A 72-page e-passport for regular processing will cost Rs. 16,500.
    4. Urgent service for the 72-page e-passport is priced at Rs. 27,000.
    5. If you opt for a 36-page passport with a 10-year validity, the normal fee is Rs. 13,500.
    6. The urgent service for this passport type costs Rs. 22,500.
    7. Additionally, a 72-page passport with a 10-year validity will incur a standard fee of Rs. 24,750, with an urgent processing fee of Rs. 40,500.

    The government’s decision to temporarily suspend the issuance of 100-page passports is in line with their efforts to streamline passport services and introduce more secure electronic passports to enhance the travel experience for Pakistani citizens.

  • Tekken 7 Pro Arslan Ash who put Pakistan on the eSports map wishes he had a different passport

    Tekken 7 Pro Arslan Ash who put Pakistan on the eSports map wishes he had a different passport

    Arslan Siddique, widely recognised as Arslan Ash, has emerged as an iconic figure within the Tekken 7 community, serving as an invaluable source of motivation for Pakistan’s gaming enthusiasts.

    With an astounding record of four Evo championship victories, Ash has indelibly etched his name into the annals of gaming history, thrusting Pakistan into the global eSports spotlight.

    Nevertheless, recent events have seen Ash express his frustration regarding the limitations of his Pakistani passport, which currently ranks a modest 100th in the Passport Rankings, lagging even behind countries such as Yemen and Somalia, positioned at 99th.

    Taking to the social platform X, formerly known as Twitter, Ash, who notably secured a remarkable $500,000 prize at the Nations Cup in South Korea in July, candidly stated, “Sometimes, I really wish I didn’t have a Pakistani passport.”

    His remarks stem from reported hardships, encompassing visa denials and travel complications encountered while representing Pakistan in international gaming competitions.

    Ash’s statements elicited a diverse spectrum of reactions across social media channels. Some empathised with the obstacles he faces and shared their own feelings of frustration, while others pointed out his triumphant journeys to nations like Japan and South Korea, where, with a Pakistani passport, he clinched multiple prestigious titles.

    Here’s how Ash clarified the ‘context’ of his earlier post:

  • Urgent passport renewal fee increases to Rs6,000 for both online and offline applications

    Urgent passport renewal fee increases to Rs6,000 for both online and offline applications

    The fee for renewing a passport online has recently undergone an upward revision, resulting in an additional cost of Rs1,000. Consequently, the new fee for online passport renewal has been set at Rs4,000, marking an increase from the previous Rs3,000.

    Furthermore, the urgent fee for passport renewal, applicable to both online and offline applications, has also been subject to a revision. It now stands at Rs6,000, representing an increase from the earlier amount of Rs5,000.

    The rationale behind these fee adjustments is attributed to the added service of home delivery of the passport via courier. Applicants can now receive their renewed passport conveniently at their doorstep.

    To apply for an online passport renewal, applicants must fulfill certain requirements. These include attaching a copy of their national identity card and passport as part of the application process. Additionally, the application fee must be paid securely online.

  • Zara Shahjahan’s Pakistani passport tweet triggers debate on privilege

    Zara Shahjahan’s Pakistani passport tweet triggers debate on privilege

    Designer Zara Shahjahan landed in a social media storm on Friday when her tweet about a recent survey that ranked Pakistani passport as the fourth worst in the world, went viral.

    Her take divided social media with most agreeing with her, while others saying she was unaware of the privilege and wealth she had, easing most travel hurdles

    She had written:

    “This shows nothing. I’ve travelled he world with my Pakistani passport and would never give it up for any other. This is a lie.”

    Some people agreed with the fashion designer, saying that they never had a problem in travelling abroad with the Pakistani passport.

    While others called her out for what they said was an elitist take, sharing their own experiences of difficulty in getting visas.

    One user wrote: “I got my visa after a whole damn year to come to Australia. I applied in 2015 and made it there in 2017. The problem was, that I had a full scholarship and not a lot of my own funds to show. See, if you’ve got a lot of $$$ in the bank, visas can come as easy as this stupid take.”

    https://twitter.com/theD_inDNA/status/1682366267775385601?s=20
    https://twitter.com/someaningfull/status/1682328267515211778?s=20

  • Fact check: UAE DOES NOT deny visas to Pakistanis belonging to certain cities

    Fact check: UAE DOES NOT deny visas to Pakistanis belonging to certain cities

    Claim: A poster which stated that United Arab Emirates (UAE) has banned visas for people belonging to various cities in Pakistan, has gone viral on social media. Some media outlets have also reported the news.

    The cities include Abbottabad, Attock, Bajaur Agency, Chakwal, Dera Ghazi Khan, Dera Ismail Khan, Hangu, Hunza, Quetta, Kasur, Kohat, Kotli, Khushab, Khurrum Agency, Larkana, Mohmand Agency, Muzaffargarh, Nawabshah, Parachinar, Sahiwal, Sargodha, Sheikhupura, Skardu and Sukkur.

    A warning on the poster stated, “Dont apply visa for a person who has been born in any of the above-mentioned cities, your visa will be rejected and the fee is non-refundable.”

    Fact: Speaking to Geo News, Consulate General of the UAE Karachi Bakheet Ateeq Al Remeithi denied the news and termed it fake.

    Remeithi said that Pakistani citizens can apply for a visit visa and visas of other categories.

    He also revealed that he has issued visas to citizens born or residing in the aforementioned cities, from the Karachi consulate.

    The consulate general also said that rumours like this are spread from time to time.

    Verdict: FALSE