The government has shortened the processing period for ordinary passports from 21 days to just 14 days, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi announced on Thursday. This initiative aims to streamline services and reduce the influence of intermediaries in passport issuance.
The decision emerged from a meeting led by Naqvi alongside Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry. Naqvi emphasized that this change would benefit citizens by enhancing service efficiency. He also instructed relevant authorities to implement a fully cashless payment system at passport offices within the next 15 days, a move intended to eliminate agents and increase transparency.
Additionally, the meeting resolved to bolster home delivery services for passports and expedite the introduction of a new “business passport” category to cater to specific needs.
In a significant development, the Federal Constitutional Court reinstated key provisions of the Passport and Immigration Rules, overturning a previous Lahore High Court ruling that had invalidated them. The two-member bench, headed by Justice Hasan Azhar Rizvi, delivered the verdict following a government petition.
The restored regulations empower authorities to place individuals on the Passport Control List and deactivate passports—powers that had been restricted by the earlier high court decision. During the hearing, the court reviewed a case involving a citizen reportedly deported from Iran after illegal travel. The government informed the court that the individual’s name was added to the control list after the incident, which was subsequently contested.
The bench inquired whether the case involved human smuggling and requested the Federal Investigation Agency to provide details of its investigation, before adjourning the hearing indefinitely.
Pakistan is actively working to reform its passport issuance system amid increasing demand and widespread complaints about delays and agent involvement. The adoption of digital and cashless processes forms part of a broader strategy to modernize public services and enhance transparency.
