Pakistan Announces Timeline for Complete Shift to E-Passports

Pakistan has announced a timeline for a complete transition from machine-readable passports (MRPs) to electronic passports (e-passports) within a month. The Ministry of Interior informed the National Assembly that e-passports will be issued exclusively after the transition, while existing MRPs will remain valid until their expiration dates.

Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhry stated that the government is working diligently to implement the new system, emphasizing that Pakistan is adopting e-passports to stay current with global technological advancements and changing immigration requirements. He further explained that the electronic chip embedded in e-passports would render forgery impossible, thereby enhancing document security.

However, Chaudhry acknowledged that Pakistan's vast population and operational challenges at passport offices might cause delays in the rollout. He assured lawmakers that the government was making every effort to complete the transition as swiftly as possible. Responding to a question from Syed Tariq Hussain, Chaudhry confirmed that the existing passport system needed upgrading to meet evolving global immigration standards, and Pakistan was moving towards the same e-passport technology utilized worldwide.