Islamabad: It has been decided to introduce a new facility in passport services for Pakistani citizens. From September 7, the facility of renewal and reprint of e-passport will be available at NADRA centers across the country. Citizens of various cities including Karachi will be able to benefit from this initiative.
The new facility will be limited to renewal and reprint of existing e-passport only. Citizens will still have to visit the relevant passport office to issue a new e-passport.
Similarly, the process of changing data in passports and obtaining a new machine-readable passport will also continue through passport offices.
This arrangement is being started under an agreement signed between the Directorate General Immigration and Passports and NADRA. Its aim is to extend the existing facilities to the vast network of NADRA.
Changes in NADRA passport counters
With the launch of the new system, the passport counters at NADRA centers will be phased out. It has also been decided to call the passport staff posted there back to the relevant department.
This change will make the division of services between NADRA and passport authorities clearer. Citizens will also have to choose the relevant center according to the nature of the application.
According to the Directorate General of Immigration and Passports, the e-passport facility in Pakistan has already reached all field offices. This facility will be available in field offices across the country from August 2023.
Modern security in e-passport
The Pakistani e-passport will have an electronic chip. It will store the biometric and personal data of the passport holder.
According to officials, the e-passport will be compatible with the global standards of the International Civil Aviation Organization. Several modern security features have been added to the document to protect identity.
These features include NFC chip, laser engraving, infrared and ultraviolet elements. These technologies aim to make document verification and identity verification more secure.
Such features can help immigration authorities at airports verify passports. This could also strengthen the process of detecting fake or altered travel documents.
What will change for citizens?
From September 7, more convenience will be available to those who only need to renew or reprint their existing e-passport. They will no longer need to visit the traditional passport office for this specific task.
However, the existing procedure will continue for those applying for e-passport for the first time. Similarly, matters of change in name or other basic details will also be handled by the passport authorities.
The Directorate General of Immigration and Passports is also continuing its online passport services. According to the official website, the online renewal facility is already available for Pakistanis at home and abroad.
According to official information, there are also different types of applications in the online system for passport renewal. These include certain reprint categories and limited changes.
The launch of the new facility at NADRA centers is an attempt to expand this digital system further to the ground level. This could particularly benefit citizens who live far from major passport offices.
However, the success of the facility will depend on the capacity of the centers, training of staff and timely processing of applications. A clear division of services in the new system will also be important for citizens.
The facility, which will start on September 7, is significant in that it will provide citizens with more locations across the country for renewal and reprinting of e-passport. The role of passport offices for new passports and complex applications will continue to be maintained.
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