ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has tasked Muhammad Ali Randhawa, the newly appointed Director General of Passport and Immigration, with executing comprehensive reforms within the department. The minister has mandated the digitization of the passport and immigration processes nationwide, aiming to transition the entire system to a fully paperless operation.
Mohsin Naqvi highlighted that facilitating the public remains the foremost priority, emphasizing that the reforms should enhance the efficiency and accessibility of services for citizens. This initiative marks a significant step toward modernizing Pakistan’s immigration infrastructure.
In a related development, the Directorate General of Immigration and Passports recently revised office hours to better serve the public by reinstating a five-day workweek. Passport offices and all field units will now operate from Monday through Friday, returning to the routine schedule after a period of reduced working days.
This change reverses an earlier austerity measure introduced by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, which had shortened the workweek to four days and allowed 50 percent of staff to work remotely. The initial decision was influenced by regional tensions in the Middle East and efforts to conserve energy. However, the restoration of regular office hours aims to prevent any inconvenience for citizens seeking passport services.
