ISLAMABAD: In a significant move to enhance citizen convenience, the federal government of Pakistan has amended passport rules, allowing citizens to apply for their passports from any city in the country, irrespective of the residential address stated on their Computerized National Identity Card (CNIC). This development aims to address the difficulties applicants face in accessing passport services.
The Directorate General of Immigration and Passports, led by Mustafa Jamal Qazi, confirmed that a notification regarding these amendments has been dispatched to passport regional offices nationwide. Under the new rules, passport applications will not be denied based on discrepancies between an applicant’s CNIC address and the location of the application submission.
This change follows the government’s commitment to resolve ongoing complaints about delays in passport issuance. In August, Minister for Law and Justice Azam Nazeer Tarar informed the National Assembly about the federal government’s plans to tackle prolonged delays, promising that new machinery and software would be installed to streamline the process. The minister expressed optimism that these enhancements would not only expedite the issuance of passports but also help alleviate the existing backlog of applications.
The new system is expected to significantly increase the daily capacity for issuing passports from 26,000 to 60,000, thereby improving access to this essential document for citizens across the nation. The amendments to the passport rules are part of broader efforts by the government to enhance public service delivery and facilitate smoother travel for Pakistani citizens.
