I AM a senior citizen and have recently retired from a senior position in govern- ment service. I applied for a 10-year validity passport under the normal fee category, at the G-10 Markaz office in Islamabad (Token No. 10171046400; (Dec 6, 2023). I was told that it may take 3-4 weeks. We must note that practically, there is no mechanism in the passport department to track or know the status of one’s application telephonically. One has to visit the office just to know the status.

Keeping in view the statement of the Ministry of Interior carried by print and electronic media, I visited the passport office exactly after one month, but was informed that it may take another 1-2 weeks. I again visited after two weeks, but there was no progress.

Exactly after two months, I visited the office for the third time, hoping to have a positive response from the officials concerned, but again the person sitting at the reception counter informed me that I may have to wait for another 3-4 weeks. Subsequently, I met the assistant director, who merely expressed his inability to be of any help in this regard. I have by now spent almost Rs30,000 on travelling from Peshawar to Islamabad thrice just to know if my passport is ready or not.

I understand there may be some issues in the timely preparation of passports. However, the relevant authorities should have some pity on this hapless nation, and at least stop issuing misleading statements that do ntohing but add to the misery of the masses, especially the senior citizens.

Rifat Parvez
Islamabad

Published in Dawn, March 3rd, 2024