The Federal Government of Pakistan has announced a historic modernization of its passport issuance system to eliminate long queues, enhance transparency, and streamline the public experience. Under the chairmanship of Director General Immigration & Passports, Muhammad Ali Randhawa, several groundbreaking decisions were approved during a high-level meeting in Islamabad. As a major shift toward complete digitization, all passport offices across the country will stop accepting cash payments starting July 1, 2026, requiring applicants to clear their dues utilizing a modern, QR-code-based digital payment system.
To further facilitate citizens, the department is launching a specialized mobile application that will allow both domestic and overseas Pakistanis to apply for their passports online from the comfort of their homes. This digital overhaul ensures that citizens no longer have to endure repeated visits to passport offices, as completed passports will now be delivered directly to their doorsteps through official partnerships signed with leading courier giants, TCS and DHL. Furthermore, in strict compliance with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) guidelines, Pakistan is permanently phasing out traditional Machine-Readable Passports (MRPs). Moving forward, the highly secure Electronic Passport (E-Passport) will become the sole standard national travel document, successfully eliminating public hassle and making the entire process highly secure, transparent, and efficient.
