The Directorate General of Immigration and Passports will stop issuing machine-readable passports after October 15, 2026, and will issue only e-passports from that date.
A circular issued by the directorate has informed passport offices across the country of the decision. Pakistani missions abroad have been directed to ensure strict implementation of the orders.
Under the new policy, machine-readable passports issued before the cut-off date will not be renewed once they expire. Holders will need to apply for an e-passport at that stage.
The directorate has also instructed all relevant offices to inform applicants about the change. Officials said e-passports offer travellers faster immigration clearance, along with other facilities.
