The government has approved blue passports for 42 top taxpayers designated as ambassadors-at-large on the directions of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, according to Director General of Immigration and Passports Muhammad Ali Randhawa.
Speaking to Dawn, Randhawa said most of the approved passports have already been issued, while authorities are also reviewing a proposal to introduce special-colored passports for businessmen who pay taxes above a specified threshold.
The proposal is currently under discussion between the Ministry of Commerce and the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR).
The Directorate General of Immigration and Passports is also preparing several digital reforms aimed at improving passport services across the country.
According to officials, discussions are underway with a courier company to launch nationwide home delivery services for passports. Applicants opting for the facility would pay a nominal courier fee, while the service may later be extended to overseas Pakistanis during the second phase.
Authorities are also working on introducing a chatbot system to help applicants with passport procedures, document requirements, and application status tracking.
Officials believe the chatbot and expanded call center operations will help reduce pressure on existing customer support services.
Randhawa said the department is seriously considering enabling complete online passport applications through either a dedicated mobile app similar to Nadra’s Pak ID platform or by expanding services within the existing system.
Under the proposed model, applicants would be able to upload photographs, previous passports, and supporting documents online, while receiving email notifications in case additional verification is needed.
The DGIP chief also announced that passport fee payments through National Bank of Pakistan branches will be discontinued after June 30.
Instead, the department plans to fully implement cashless payment systems through QR codes and mobile banking applications to simplify payments and reduce the role of agents in the process.
