ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has decided to introduce a modern e-passport system that will allow citizens to apply for passports online, pay the required fees digitally and receive their passports at home.
The government plans to gradually phase out traditional machine-readable passports (MRPs) and replace them with internationally compliant e-passports.
Director General Passports Muhammad Abdul Khaliq said Pakistan issued its first e-passport in 2022, but the system has since been upgraded to fully meet international standards and integrate with automated e-gates.
The new e-passports will feature advanced laser engraving technology and digital security certificates, making them significantly more secure against forgery. The system will also enable faster verification at e-gates worldwide, reducing processing times for Pakistani travelers.
Under the new system, citizens will be able to submit passport applications, upload photographs and supporting documents, and pay fees through mobile banking apps or digital wallets using NADRA’s Pak ID mobile application from anywhere in the world.
Applicants facing biometric verification or online submission issues will still be able to visit nearby passport or NADRA offices, where they will receive assistance without lengthy waiting times.
Officials said interviews, where required, may also be conducted online as part of efforts to make passport services faster, more transparent and convenient.
