Pakistan launches ‘SHIKRA’ system to revolutionise passport issuance

Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has inaugurated “SHIKRA,” a state-of-the-art monitoring system designed to overhaul the passport application, printing process and performance of the passports department, the Ministry of Interior said in a statement on Monday.

The system, officially known as Secure Hybrid Intelligence for Knowledge-based Response Analytics (SHIKRA), marks a significant shift toward total digitisation at the Directorate General of Immigration and Passports.

“The SHIKRA system enables 24/7 supervision of the entire passport lifecycle, from the initial application to final delivery, both in Pakistan and across global missions,” the ministry said.

It said new automatic German-manufactured machines have been integrated to automate the printing process, effectively removing human intervention and increasing departmental capacity.

Security features of the Pakistani passport have been upgraded to meet the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) global standards, the MoI said.

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On the interior minister’s directives, the issuance of Emergency Travel Documents has also been transitioned to a digital format.

During his visit, Naqvi inspected the newly activated 24/7 call centre, forensic lab, and a digital integrated dashboard. The briefing highlighted that the new system can automatically identify “rush” periods at specific offices and monitor machinery status to prevent backlogs.

“The Pakistan passport system has now been aligned with the best international standards,” stated Naqvi. “Our goal is to ensure world-class, high-speed, and secure services for all citizens.”

The inauguration was attended by high-ranking officials, including the Federal Investigation Agency director general (FIA DG), Immigration and Passports DG, Islamabad chief commissioner, and Islamabad Police inspector general.