Pakistan’s government has approved a complete transition to e-passports and a cashless passport system as part of major reforms aimed at improving security and service delivery. The measures are designed to curb fraud and forgery while modernising passport operations nationwide. Citizens will also benefit from upcoming home delivery services for passports within Pakistan and abroad.
The decisions were finalised during a high-level meeting chaired by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi at the Passport and Immigration Headquarters. Under the new policy, passport issuance will shift entirely to an electronic format, while online applications will be integrated into the Pak-ID platform. Officials said the move would simplify procedures and improve efficiency.
As part of the reforms, all passport offices will adopt a fully cashless payment system from July 1. The ministry also directed officials to finalise a new business passport policy in consultation with the Federal Board of Revenue. Authorities expect the measures to enhance transparency and streamline operations across the department.
The government has also approved the initial framework for launching passport home delivery services both domestically and internationally. Under the proposed system, applicants will receive passports directly at their homes, reducing the need for repeated visits to passport offices. Premium service users will be charged fees based on actual service costs.
The reforms build on Pakistan’s broader digitisation efforts within the passport system. Earlier this year, authorities launched the SHIKRA monitoring system, officially known as Secure Hybrid Intelligence for Knowledge-based Response Analytics. The platform enables round-the-clock monitoring of the passport process, from application submission to final delivery, both within Pakistan and at overseas missions.