In a decisive move to tackle the ongoing passport crisis, the federal government has announced plans to procure additional machines for printing passports. This strategic decision aims to alleviate the backlog that has plagued citizens awaiting their travel documents.
The Director General (DG) of Passports and Immigration has prepared a requisition for the new equipment, which has been sent to the Ministry of Interior for approval. According to authorities, the procurement will include six desktops and two e-passport machines. These advanced machines boast the capability to print up to 1,000 passports per hour, significantly enhancing the efficiency of the passport printing process.
This intervention comes in response to a year-long delay in passport printing across the country. The delays have been attributed to a shortage of paper and the use of outdated, low-efficiency machines. These issues have caused considerable inconvenience to citizens, many of whom have faced prolonged waiting times for their passports.
The new machines are expected to expedite the printing process, ensuring that citizens receive their passports on time. This move is part of the government’s broader efforts to improve public service delivery and address the challenges that have hindered the issuance of passports.
The Ministry of Interior is expected to review and approve the requisition swiftly, recognizing the urgent need to resolve the passport crisis. Once the new machines are in place, authorities anticipate a significant reduction in the backlog, restoring confidence in the passport issuance system.
