The government of Pakistan has approved a plan allowing citizens to apply for passports from home, marking a significant shift in how the country delivers immigration services to its population.
The decision was announced following a high-level meeting chaired by Director General of Immigration and Passports, Muhammad Ali Randhawa, held in Islamabad with officials present.
Representatives from the National Database and Registration Authority’s technical team attended the session, where several key decisions on passport reform were formally reviewed and approved.
Officials conducted a comprehensive review of the existing passport system, identifying areas requiring modernisation to bring services in line with current digital standards.
A formal briefing was presented at the meeting on introducing updated technology and revising existing policies to align the passport process with a fully digital operating framework.
Last week, the federal government reduced ordinary passport processing time from 21 to 14, following decisions finalized during an Islamabad meeting led by ministers.
Authorities also ordered passport offices to adopt fully cashless operations within 15 days, aiming to improve transparency and eliminate unauthorized agents from operations completely.
Officials additionally discussed introducing business passports, improving home delivery services, and establishing a dedicated Passport Authority to strengthen public service efficiency.
