ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan government is set to amend passport rules for both new issuances and renewals in a significant policy shift. The Interior Ministry has submitted a summary to the federal cabinet proposing these changes.
If approved, the amendments will allow passports to be issued to citizens from any city nationwide and permit passport fees to be paid at any National Bank branch.
Moreover, sources from the Ministry of Interior indicated that these changes will streamline the passport application process, aligning it more closely with the procedure for acquiring a national identity card.
In response to delays in passport printing, authorities have also made key decisions to address the issue.
In addition, the Directorate General of Immigration and Passports plans to purchase 20 new laminators and printers, along with five modern ARPM and two E-passport printers.
With these upgrades, the new equipment will enable the production of 1,000 passports per hour.
