KABUL (Pajhwok): The distribution of passports in Kabul has been delayed for a few days due to a technical problem in biometric machines.
However, the process would continue in other provinces, the Passport Department said on Tuesday. Nearly 100,000 passports have been issued since last Tuesday.
Passport distribution also started in Balkh, Herat, Kandahar, Kunduz, Nangarhar, Khost and Paktia provinces on Sunday.
Passport Director Alam Gul Haqqani said 15,000 to 20,000 people visited the department daily. But the department has the capacity to issue 3,000 to 3500 passports only on a daily basis.
Haqqani said in a video message: “Our leaders have told us that we are overcrowded and work is not being done. What is the reason for it? Some of our biometric machines did not work yesterday.
“All information therein has been erased. As a result, we have delayed the process of passport distribution until our machines are fixed and staff enhanced.”
To inconveniencing the people and not to make them wait day and night for passports, it has decided to suspend the process in Kabul for a few days from today (Tuesday).
According to him, the decision will be taken by the Kabul Passport Department. However, the distribution of passports would continue in the provinces.
He will soon import new machines and resume the distribution of passports in Kabul. Haqqani did not say how long it would take to resolve the issue.
sa/mud
