ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will abolish cash payments for passport fees from July 1, introducing a fully digital payment system across all passport offices nationwide, officials announced.
According to the Directorate General of Passports, all fee payments will now be processed through QR code-based digital transactions as part of major reforms aimed at modernising passport services and improving public convenience.
The decision was taken in a meeting chaired by Director General of Passports Muhammad Ali Randhawa, where zonal heads and senior officials were briefed on ongoing reforms and future service improvements.
Officials said a dedicated passport mobile application is also in development, allowing citizens in Pakistan and abroad to submit applications online. Delivery of passports directly to applicants’ doorsteps will be introduced in collaboration with courier services including TCS and DHL.
The DG further stated that the country will transition to issuing only e-passports in the future, while existing machine-readable passports will remain valid until their expiry.
Authorities also directed strict action against agents operating around passport offices and emphasized closer coordination with the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to curb illegal facilitation networks.
The reforms are part of broader efforts to digitize public services and reduce processing delays for citizens.
