Passport Office

Good Morning Pakistan! While applying for my Indian visa, I realized my passport had a few months on it, which meant one had to apply for a new passport before getting the visa. I wasn’t looking forward to going to a government office; they irritate me, I must be honest, and I just cannot fathom the need for the unnecessary stamping, cues and processes which serve no information purpose or security checks; clearly they are designed for employing thousands of bureaucrats who need to do something rather than serve the public quickly and efficiently.

The Government of Pakistan's passport website states it is a easy 5 step procedure; Well 5 steps in bureaucrat language means 10 as I visually recorded and shared on my Facebook and twitter accounts.

One begins the process my going the National Bank of Pakistan’s office in G/9 where a gentlemen insists on filling in the form for you Outside for Rs100, I am not sure what purpose this serves since I can do this myself and certainly would recommend duplicate foil to cut short the repetition of filling in 4 duplicate forms.  After this silliness, then one begins the battle of the cue a dedicated line for women, which is constantly invaded by pushy men trying to bully themselves to the front of the cue. Sadly for them I was in the cue, which pretty much meant no male bothered this lineup while I was in the building. I felt bad for the lone police man who did try to bring some order to these obnoxious not so gentlemen, but then our class war begins, 'who do you think you are' 'don’t teach me what to do, I will tell the manager you were bothering me' routine.  This is a tiresome constant in all things Pakistani public.

Everyone’s a VIP in Pakistan. I wish we actually were.

The passport office looks quite organized and probably is compared to the thousands which are not, but my clostrophobia always sets in, when I see hundred of people, it doesn’t help that Pakistanis in general have no concept of personal space. Why is ok to touch and practically maul a complete stranger? Isn’t this supposed to be a prude infested conservative country? Clearly not when it comes to invading people’s personal space. 

A very bored and exasperated young lady took my details and asked me to get a token, which would lead me through the 5 steps. All this has taken about 45 minutes thus far.

Some of the Observations in this milieu: there was no ’lady’ (no tramps J) who was unaccompied, barring yours truly. It wasn’t that the ladies looked helpless but they or their families deemed it inappropriate for them to be there alone or submit documents to government directly? From instructing women how to cover their headscarves during the picture taking or giving the documents to the government officials and listening to the instructions these men were everywhere. It is disconcerting. Yes I am aware we live in a conservative pre modern society but it bothers me nonetheless.  

On of the counters, which brought a smile, was step 4 ECLBL desk; I asked the officer what was this? He wasn’t too amused, not too many ask any questions I suppose. Exit control list. Kind of funny since I cant see our powers that be who are on the list traipsing through these corridors or office. Nevertheless another stamp and signature was added to my papers and I finally after 90 minutes was sent to the 5th step ipso 10th step desk where I was to be 'interviewed' before my application for renewing my passport was accepted. Naturally I was a little miffed when number/token 115,117 skipped my token number 112! When I asked how did this happen, I was told sheepishly sometimes it does, my rye comment of ‘only in the land of the pure’ wasn’t challenged.

Finally when I did get my turn I asked, what is this interview step all about? I was informed they are trained to weed out non-nationals. I asked them after so many steps having preceded this one, how would they have escaped the detection of the army of bureaucrats before? Well they seem to have some special skills that I wasn’t made aware of. I must admit I must have had a Pakistani stamp on my forehead since I wasn’t asked any questions and was signed off as a patriot and qualified to get a passport immediately. Relief :)