A severe shortage of stamp papers in Dera Ismail Khan has caused significant difficulties for citizens, students, and the business community. Residents complain that where stamp papers are available, they are being sold at prices several times higher than the official rate. A stamp paper with a face value of Rs100 is being sold for Rs200 to Rs400 in the black market.

Local resident Wahab said that stamp papers required for land transfers are unavailable, and when they are found, they have to be purchased at inflated prices. He urged the administration to ensure the availability of stamp papers at official rates.

Shakeel Kamran, who has been working as a deed writer at the local courts for the past eleven years, stated that stamp papers have not been available at the Dera Ismail Khan Treasury Office for the past two months. He held officials at the Treasury and District Accounts Office responsible for the crisis. According to him, many citizens are now bringing stamp papers from other districts, which could raise questions about the legal validity of these documents in future court proceedings.

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Stamp vendor Asif iexplained that the shortage has persisted since October 2024. Local vendors had pooled money to arrange a limited supply of stamp papers from Lakki Marwat and Charsadda, but that stock has now been exhausted. Despite repeated requests to the relevant offices, no practical measures have been taken, he added.

Meanwhile, Assistant Commissioner Dera Ismail Khan Syed Arsalan said that stamp papers are supplied through post offices by the State Bank of Pakistan. At the beginning of the year, stock was provided to Dera, but the high demand in the area caused the shortage. He added that the provincial department has been informed, and it is expected that fresh supplies will soon be arranged either through the State Bank or from other districts.