Passport system to undergo digital overhaul

ISLAMABAD: The Directorate of Passports and Immigration has completed a detailed review of the passport application process, covering every stage from submission to issuance, as part of a broader effort to modernise the system in line with current requirements.

The review was carried out in consultation with information technology experts and was finalised ahead of a planned announcement on upgrading the passport and immigration processing framework. The proposed changes are aimed at improving efficiency, increasing transparency and speeding up service delivery for the public.

The decision was taken at a key meeting chaired by Director General Immigration and Passports MuhammadAli Randhawa, where a set of reforms linked to digital transformation was approved.

Digital complaint centres planned

According to the details shared from the meeting, digital complaint centres will be set up to help ensure quicker handling of public complaints. The move is part of wider efforts to digitise the immigration and passport system.

Under the planned reforms, the department will also introduce a new application that will allow citizens to submit complaints and queries online. The initiative is intended to improve response times and reduce dependence on manual procedures.

The planned measures are also meant to make the system more accessible and convenient for applicants by using technology-based solutions.

Focus on faster public services

Speaking on the occasion, DG Passports MuhammadAli Randhawa said the department was committed to improving public facilities through the use of modern technology.

He added that work was in progress to speed up plans for digital services that would remain active around the clock.

The latest review and the approval of reforms indicate that the department is moving towards a more technology-driven system for passport and immigration services. The measures under consideration include changes to complaint handling, online public interaction and broader digital processing, all of which are intended to support faster and more transparent service delivery.

The development comes as the Directorate of Passports and Immigration moves to reshape its existing procedures through digitisation, with the review process now completed and the reform agenda formally approved at the departmental level.