Pakistan announces transition to e-passport under major reforms

ISLAMABAD – Pakistan has decided to fully transition its system to e-passports as part of a series of major reforms aimed at modernising immigration services and improving security. The decision was taken during a high-level meeting at the Passport and Immigration Headquarters chaired by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi. Officials said the move is intended to significantly reduce fraud and forgery in the passport issuance process by shifting entirely to digital systems. The meeting also approved that citizens opting for premium services will be required to pay charges based on the actual cost of passport issuance. Authorities further confirmed that preparatory work for a home delivery service for passports, both within Pakistan and abroad, has been completed. The facility will be launched soon, allowing applicants to receive passports at their doorstep. Cashless System from July 1 In another key development, it was decided that all passport offices across the country will operate on a cashless system starting from July 1. In addition, online passport applications will be integrated into the Pak ID platform to make the process more streamlined, accessible, and transparent. The interior minister also directed that the policy for business passports be finalised at the earliest in consultation with the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR). During the briefing, the Director General of Passports and Immigration, Muhammad Ali Randhawa, updated the minister on ongoing reforms and future plans aimed at improving service delivery and system efficiency.