In a significant development, passport applications across Sindh province, including Karachi, have plummeted by nearly 50 percent amid the ongoing situation in the Middle East. This sharp decline has been observed in both new passport requests and renewals, impacting the revenue generated by passport offices throughout the region.
Data from various passport offices reveal that daily applications in Karachi have dropped from about 2,000 to between 800 and 900. Similarly, other cities in Sindh have seen numbers fall from roughly 3,000 to around 1,200 to 1,500 per day. Officials link this downturn to a decrease in the issuance of work and tourist visas, which has consequently reduced the number of Pakistanis applying for travel documents.
The Directorate General of Immigration and Passports, operating under the Ministry of Interior, manages Pakistan’s passport system. Passports serve as official identity and citizenship documents necessary for international travel. Pakistan issues ordinary and official passports with validity periods of five or ten years, while minors under 15 receive five-year passports. The country currently uses modern machine-readable passports equipped with advanced security features. Applications can be submitted online or at designated passport offices and consulates.
Authorities have reiterated the importance of holding a valid passport for international travel despite the current decline in applications.
Meanwhile, in a move to modernize the system, Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has tasked the newly appointed Director General of Passport and Immigration, Muhammad Ali Randhawa, with implementing comprehensive reforms. The minister has instructed the department to digitize the entire passport and immigration process nationwide, aiming to establish a fully paperless operation.
Mohsin Naqvi emphasized that enhancing public facilitation remains the highest priority. The reforms are expected to improve the efficiency and accessibility of passport services for all citizens.
