Tag: e-passport

  • Why aren’t you getting your passport?

    Why aren’t you getting your passport?

    Numerous complaints have been filed against the Directorate General of Immigration and Passports, citing prolonged waiting periods for passport issuance, leading frustrated applicants to seek intervention from the federal ombudsman.

    Responding to the increasing complaints, Federal Ombudsman Ejaz Ahmad Qureshi acted on Monday by dispatching an inspection team comprising senior officials to assess the situation at the passport office and identify the reasons for the delays.

    During the inspection, the administration of the Directorate General of Immigration and Passports explained to the visiting team that the delay in printing passports was due to the unavailability of lamination paper.

    They assured the team that the backlog would be swiftly cleared as they now had an adequate supply of lamination paper.

    The inspection team recommended that the administration ensure timely procurement of lamination paper in the future to prevent a recurrence of the issue.

    They also advised the administration to adhere to the prescribed timeframe for passport issuance and, in cases of late delivery, refund the fees charged for urgent passport processing.

    Simultaneously, the Federal Ombudsman directed the secretary interior to comprehensively assess the functioning of the Directorate General of Immigration and Passports to ensure more efficient service delivery in the future.

    The inspection team discussed in detail the entire process of issuing passports to ascertain the causes of inordinate delay and breakdown of efficient delivery of services in the Passport Office.

    The team also interviewed many people who had come to get their passports in the Passport Offices located in the G-8 and G-10 sectors in Islamabad.

    The team was informed by the applicants that they had been visiting the Passport Office to collect their documents for many months and their visas had expired in the meantime.

    The inspection team on arrival at G-10 Passport Office observed hundreds of applicants waiting to collect their travel documents. The lack of proper seating arrangements was causing further agony to the visitors.

    The inspection team will submit its report based on its recommendations for the consideration of the Federal Ombudsman within one week.

  • You can’t get 100-page passports now

    You can’t get 100-page passports now

    The government has announced a temporary suspension on the issuance of passports with 100 pages. A statement issued by the Passport office expresses regret for the inconvenience and clarifies that this decision is part of the Directorate General (DG) of Immigration and Passports’ plan to introduce electronic passports (e-passports) nationwide.

    The transition initially began in Islamabad and has since been extended to all passport offices across the country following the federal government’s introduction of e-passports in June.

    As of August 16, 2023, new fee schedules have been implemented for e-passports, while fees for standard passports will remain unchanged.

    Here are the updated fee details for e-passports:

    1. For a standard 36-page passport valid for 5 years, the cost is set at Rs. 9,000.
    2. An urgent e-passport option is available for Rs. 15,000.
    3. A 72-page e-passport for regular processing will cost Rs. 16,500.
    4. Urgent service for the 72-page e-passport is priced at Rs. 27,000.
    5. If you opt for a 36-page passport with a 10-year validity, the normal fee is Rs. 13,500.
    6. The urgent service for this passport type costs Rs. 22,500.
    7. Additionally, a 72-page passport with a 10-year validity will incur a standard fee of Rs. 24,750, with an urgent processing fee of Rs. 40,500.

    The government’s decision to temporarily suspend the issuance of 100-page passports is in line with their efforts to streamline passport services and introduce more secure electronic passports to enhance the travel experience for Pakistani citizens.

  • You can now renew your passport online, no office visit needed

    You can now renew your passport online, no office visit needed

    Federal Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah has officially announced the introduction of an online passport renewal service. This new initiative is set to revolutionise the passport renewal process and address the longstanding grievances of citizens who previously faced challenges due to long queues and extensive waiting times at government offices.

    The announcement was communicated through the official Twitter account of Federal Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah, indicating the government’s commitment to streamlining administrative processes for the public. With the implementation of this hassle-free e-passport facility, citizens can now conveniently renew their passports from anywhere without the need to physically visit a government office.

    By embracing the online platform for passport renewal, the government aims to eliminate the tedious and time-consuming process of visiting passport offices, which has been a point of frustration for many applicants in the past. The introduction of the e-passport renewal facility marks a significant step towards enhancing public service efficiency and ensuring a smoother experience for citizens.

    Prior to this digital transformation, obtaining a renewed passport was a daunting task for citizens, as long lines stretching outside passport offices were a common sight. The inefficiencies inherent in the previous system often resulted in unnecessary delays and inconveniences for applicants. With the implementation of the new online renewal system, such challenges are poised to become a thing of the past.

    In conclusion, the introduction of the online passport renewal service represents a commendable effort by the government to embrace technological advancements and cater to the evolving needs of the public. By offering citizens the convenience of renewing their passports from the comfort of their homes, this initiative is a testament to the government’s commitment to enhancing citizen-centric services and streamlining bureaucratic processes.

  • PM Khan to reveal ‘threat letter’ to senior journalists, allied parties

    PM Khan to reveal ‘threat letter’ to senior journalists, allied parties

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan announced that he would show the “threat letter” reportedly containing evidence of a “foreign conspiracy” against the government to senior journalists and one member each of the government’s allied parties. On March 27, PM Khan had waved a letter during the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) power show in Islamabad and talked about a foreign conspiracy to oust his government.

    “The document that I have, I will show it to senior journalists today. We want to protect the nation and can’t divulge details in public. People think this is a joke and I have decided to share it with top journalists,” adding that he would call one member of each allied party and show them the document and “prove that it is real”.

    PM Khan’s comments came during a ceremony for the launch of the E-passport facility in Islamabad.

    “People can take whatever decision they want to. But beware of the fact that, directly or indirectly, you may become a part of a huge international conspiracy,” he said, adding that the document would provide proof of the same.

    “Foreign funding is being used to change the government. Money is coming from abroad and people inside the country are being used. Some of them are unaware they are being used and some are intentionally using this money against us,” said PM Khan.

    “But this is a foreign imported conspiracy. And it started when people from abroad started controlling Pakistan through telephone calls. They cannot tolerate a leadership that works in the people’s interest.”

    “We sacrificed our interests for those abroad but they never valued it,” he said.

    Federal Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives Asad Umar said yesterday that Khan was ready to share the “threat letter” with Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial. 

    Addressing a press conference in Islamabad alongside Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry, Minister for Planning and Development Umar said he has seen the letter himself, adding that if someone had doubts, the “prime minister is ready … he thought we can share with the chief justice of the Supreme Court”.

  • Interior Ministry to launch e-passport system by June

    Interior Ministry to launch e-passport system by June

    Federal Minister for Interior Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed has announced the launch of the e-passport system by June 2021. The minister made the announcement when he visited Jinnah International Airport, Karachi.

    The e-passport will have an embedded chip that will contain all the biometric information of travellers. It will be used to authenticate the identities of the passport bearers. Along with the chip, the passport will have two pictures of the passport holder.

    The minister had inspected the immigration counters at the airport and ordered to increase the number of immigration counters to facilitate the overseas Pakistanis. He said that the role of overseas Pakistanis is crucial for the economic development of our country.

    The immigration officials also briefed the minister on immigration procedures. The minister instructed the director of the FIA-Sindh to install new counters in a maximum of two months.

    “Promotion of tourism and trade are key aspects of the Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan vision, and online visas will boost the tourism sector. The government is taking steps in this direction, and it will also benefit the country’s economy,” the Interior Minister said.

    Along with e-passports, Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed also announced the opening of more NADRA and passport offices in Karachi.