Key Takeaways
- Pakistan will discontinue issuing machine-readable passports within a month.
- Only e-passports will be issued after the transition is complete.
- The move aims to improve document security and comply with global standards.
The federal government of Pakistan has announced a timeline for the complete shift to electronic passports (e-passports), discontinuing the issuance of machine-readable passports (MRPs) within a month. This decision was made in response to a question raised by Member of the National Assembly (MNA) Malik Shakir Bashir Awan during the National Assembly’s Question Hour.
Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhry informed lawmakers that once the transition is complete, only e-passports will be issued at passport offices across Pakistan and at Pakistani missions abroad. Existing machine-readable passports will remain valid until their respective expiration dates.
Dr. Chaudhry explained that the government is working to introduce the new system within approximately a month, emphasizing the need to keep pace with technological advancements and changing immigration requirements worldwide. He stated that the electronic chip embedded in e-passports would make forgery impossible, significantly improving document security.
However, the minister acknowledged that Pakistan’s large population and operational challenges at passport offices could delay the rollout. Despite these challenges, he assured lawmakers that the government was making every effort to complete the transition as soon as possible.
In response to a supplementary question by Syed Tariq Hussain, Dr. Chaudhry agreed that the existing passport system needed to be upgraded to meet changing global immigration standards. He added that e-passport technology was already being used worldwide and that Pakistan was moving toward the same system.
The announcement was made in the context of Pakistan’s ongoing efforts to modernize its immigration and passport systems. The government’s decision to fully transition to e-passports is seen as a significant step towards enhancing the security and efficiency of travel documents in the country.
While the exact date for the complete transition has not been specified, the government is committed to completing the shift within the next month. This move is expected to improve the overall security and reliability of Pakistan’s travel documents, aligning the country with international standards.
