Internet outage stalls domicile issuance

RAWALPINDI: A prolonged internet outage at the domicile issuance branch inside the District Courts complex in Rawalpindi has disrupted services for weeks, leaving thousands of students, job applicants and other residents unable to obtain domicile certificates.

According to officials at the branch, the internet and biometric verification system has remained out of order for several weeks, preventing the processing of new applications. They said the disruption has created difficulties for students seeking admission to colleges and universities, as well as unemployed people applying for jobs where a domicile certificate is required.

Branch officials said financial constraints had delayed repairs to damaged internet cables and related infrastructure. As a result, dozens of applicants are arriving daily with complete documents but are being turned away because their cases cannot be processed. Officials added that female students and their families were among those most affected, with many making repeated visits in an effort to secure the required documents before admission deadlines.

The same officials said the Wi-Fi and internet cable network had suffered technical damage and that a written report had been sent to the Deputy Commissioner’s Office seeking urgent action. They said the biometric verification system, which is mandatory for domicile issuance, cannot operate without an internet connection.

"Not a single new domicile has been issued during the past month because the biometric system is entirely dependent upon internet connectivity. Thousands of applications remain pending, awaiting restoration of the service," an official at the branch said.

Officials at the Deputy Commissioner’s Office said repair work on the internet cables, Wi-Fi network, and related systems was underway and was expected to be completed during the coming week.

Among those affected is Qaisra Begum, who said she had been visiting the branch with her three daughters since before Eid al-Adha, but their university admission process could not move forward without domicile certificates. "When the authorities cannot ensure the uninterrupted functioning of the internet system, why was the biometric system introduced without adequate safeguards?" she said, questioning the reliability of the system.

Another applicant, Naveeda Hashmi, also urged the authorities to act quickly to assist students whose academic prospects could be affected by the delay.