Pakistan has approved a plan in principle to replace traditional passports with an electronic passport system as part of broader reforms aimed at improving security and service delivery.
The key decision was taken during a high level meeting chaired by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi at the Passport and Immigration Headquarters in Islamabad.
Officials said the transition to e‑passports would help reduce fraud and forgery linked to travel documents while strengthening the integrity of the passport system.
Naqvi stated that the move would bring Pakistan’s passport services closer to international standards and enhance the security of travel documentation.
The meeting also approved a revised fee structure for premium passport services, under which applicants will pay charges based on the actual cost of service provision.
Authorities informed the meeting that preparations for home delivery of passports within Pakistan and abroad have been completed, and the service will be launched soon.
The initiative will allow citizens to receive passports at their homes without visiting passport offices to collect completed documents. Officials also announced that a cashless payment system will be introduced at passport offices across the country from 1 July.
The government plans to shift online passport applications to the Pak ID platform to create a more integrated digital process for applicants. The meeting also reviewed progress on the proposed Business Passport policy aimed at facilitating legitimate business travel.
