Naqvi directs DGI&P to finalise business passport policy with FBR
ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Moshin Naqvi on Friday directed the Director General Immigration and Passport (DGI&P) to finalise the business passport policy with the consultation of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR).
The minister issued these directives during a meeting at DGI&P headquarters. DG I&P Muhammad Ali Randhawa and other senior officials attended the meeting. The meeting approved a series of major reforms aimed at modernizing the passport system in principle.
During the meeting, it was also decided to completely shift the issuance of passports to the e-passport system. According to DG I&P, the e-Passport has an electronic chip embedded in one of the passport pages, which will be used to store biometric information about the holder.
The chip contains data that will verify the passport holder’s identity and will include the biometrics of the passport holder, the personal data found on the data page of the passport, a unique identification number, and a digital signature.
The meeting also decided that applicants seeking premium passport services will be required to pay fees in accordance with the actual costs incurred for those services.
The DG I&P, while briefing the meeting, said that preliminary work has been completed for introducing the home delivery services for passports both within Pakistan and abroad. The service, which will allow citizens to receive passports at their doorstep, is expected to be launched soon, he said.
The meeting further approved the transfer of online passport applications to the Pak ID platform, which is expected to enhance digital accessibility and efficiency for applicants.
Speaking on the occasion, Naqvi said that the complete transition to e-passports would help eliminate fraud and forgery associated with passport documents.
Another key decision taken during the meeting was the implementation of a cashless payment system at passport offices across the country from July 1. The move is intended to streamline transactions and improve transparency.
An official said that the reforms are part of broader efforts to make the passport system more efficient, transparent, and citizen-friendly.
The DGI&P issues four categories of travel documents, including ordinary, official, diplomatic passports, and Emergency Travel Documents (ETD). An ordinary passport is issued to all citizens of Pakistan for travel abroad, subject to the completion of all codal formalities.
Official passports are issued to government employees, senators, MNAs, and officials of BPS-17 and above travelling abroad on official business. Its validity usually corresponds to the duration of the official assignment
Diplomatic passports are strictly reserved for designated state officials and individuals on diplomatic assignments. Those entitled to diplomatic passports under Schedule-IV of the rules included the President of Pakistan, Prime Minister of Pakistan, Chairman Senate, Speaker National Assembly, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Governors of the provinces, Chief Ministers of the provinces, federal ministers, Attorney General for Pakistan, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Naval Staff, Chief of Air Staff, former presidents and prime ministers, ministers of state, former chairmen of Senate and former speakers of National Assembly, special assistants to the prime minister, federal government functionaries with the status of federal minister or minister of state, and the chairman of Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC).
An Emergency Travel Document (ETD) is a temporary, single-use document issued by Pakistani embassies or consulates abroad. It is issued to Pakistanis abroad in case of emergency, in order to travel back to Pakistan one time.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026