Govt allocates Rs 1.69b to Address Passport Crisis
- The staff posted at Pakistan Missions abroad could not draw their salaries on time and at some missions, the staff had not received their salaries for the last 12 to 15 months.
Staff Report
The government has approved the allocation of Rs 1.69 billion to address the issue of the passport crisis.
The people have been issues of delay in getting passport.
The government approved the funds to meet the shortfall for Passport Organization for the financial year 2023-24.
The government has approved funds to clear the total outstanding liability under ERE up to Rs. 690.431 million as of December 2023 and outstanding liability on account of production and consumables: Rs. 275.000 million.
It approved funds required for the period January to June 2024: Rs. 731.00 million.Govt Launches E-Passport Service in Pakistan
According to the Ministry of Interior, the Directorate General of Immigration & Passports (IMPASS) was an important attached department of the Ministry of Interior.
Due to curtailed allocations of funds during the previous financial year, the staff posted at Pakistan Missions abroad could not draw their salaries on time. At some missions, the staff had not received their salaries for the last 12 to 15 months.
It was stated that during FY 2021-22, IMPASS had requested a Technical Supplementary Grant of Rs.184 million under Employee Related Expenditure for IMPASS staff posted abroad; however, no funds were provided.
Consequently, this liability spilled over to FY 2022-23. During FY 2022-23, IMPASS had requested a Supplementary Grant of Rs.1,007 million under the foreign exchange component.
However, the requisite funds were not provided to this office to cover the outstanding liabilities on account of Employee Related Expenditures.
During FY 2023-24, the shortfall of funds faced by the department, including outstanding liability under the Foreign Exchange Component.
ECC was informed that the Finance Division had concurred with the proposed Technical Supplementary Grant of Rs.1,696.431 million for IMPASS to settle pending liabilities and meet the shortfall of funds.
The Ministry of Interior sought approval from the ECC for the provision of funds amounting to Rs.1,096.431 million through a Technical Supplementary Grant, so that pending liabilities, as well as the shortfall of funds, could be addressed for uninterrupted and smooth official business of the Directorate General of Immigration & Passports in the public interest.
The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet considered the Summary submitted by the Ministry of Interior regarding the “Request for provision of a shortfall of funds of Rs.1,696.431 million to meet the shortfall of funds under F.E.C. (ERE & non ERE) under the current budget of the Passport Organization for FY 2023-24” and approved the proposal.
