In Punjab 11.94 lakh passports issued in 2023, highest in a year

Los Angeles, Jan 09, 2024
NRIpress.club/Ramesh/ A.Gary Singh

A new record was set in Punjab as about 11.94 lakh passports were issued in the state in 2023. This is the highest figure ever for a single year.

According to the data released by the Ministry of External Affairs, Punjab ranked fourth in issuing maximum passports last year, only behind Kerala, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh, which have relatively higher populations.

In terms of percentage of population, Punjab registered the highest numbers. In the last 10 years.

Before 2023, the highest number of passports issued in the state was in 2018 when 10.69 lakh passports were issued. When Covid pandemic was raging - the number dipped to 4.82 lakh and 6.44 lakh for 2020 and 2021, respectively.

It is believed that now it is not the youth but more of elderly relatives of Punjabi youths settled abroad, after competing their education in foreign lands, who are getting new passports.