RAWALPINDI:
A prolonged internet outage at the domicile issuance office located in the District Courts Complex in Rawalpindi has left thousands of students, job seekers and members of the public facing serious difficulties, with no new domiciles issued in the past month.
Sources said the branch’s internet and biometric verification system remained non-functional for several weeks, creating significant hurdles for students seeking admission to colleges and universities, as well as unemployed people applying for jobs requiring domicile certificates as part of the recruitment process.
Branch officials revealed that severe financial constraints prevented the timely repair of damaged internet cables and associated infrastructure. As a result, dozens of applicants would report to the office each day with the completed paperwork, only to return home disappointed after learning their application could not be processed.
The situation has particularly affected female students and their families, many of whom regularly visit the office in hopes of obtaining the required certificates before admission deadlines expire.
According to branch officials, the Wi-Fi network and cable internet network had suffered technical damage and a written report had already been submitted to the deputy commissioner’s office seeking urgent intervention.
They explained that the biometric verification system, mandatory for the issuance of domiciles, cannot work without an active Internet connection.
“Not a single new domicile has been issued in the last month because the biometric system is completely dependent on internet connectivity,” an official said. “Thousands of requests remain pending, waiting for service to be restored.”
Separately, Washington office officials said the process of repairing and restoring the Internet cables, Wi-Fi network and associated systems is underway and expected to be completed within the next week.
Qaisra Begum, who is among those affected, says she was visiting the branch with her three daughters much before Eidul Azha, but her daughters’ college admission procedures could not be completed without domicile certificates.
“While the authorities cannot guarantee the uninterrupted operation of the Internet system, why was the biometric system introduced without adequate safeguards? she questioned.
Another candidate, Naveeda Hashmi, echoed similar concerns, urging authorities to take immediate action to help students whose academic futures could be affected by administrative delays.
