Naqvi orders major reforms in passports and immigration system

Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Monday ordered sweeping reforms in Pakistan's passport and immigration system, tasking newly appointed Director General Muhammad Ali Randhawa with implementing changes at all levels.

According to directives issued by the interior minister, the entire passport and immigration system is to be made fully digital and paperless across the country. Emphasizing efficiency and service delivery, Naqvi stressed that public convenience must remain the top priority in the system.

The reforms come shortly after administrative changes were introduced by the Directorate General of Immigration and Passports regarding office timings. The department had recently revised working hours to facilitate citizens, restoring a five-day workweek for passport offices.

Under the updated schedule, all field formations and passport offices will now operate from Monday to Friday as per routine practice.

Earlier, working days had been reduced to four per week under an austerity plan introduced by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, amid rising tensions in the Middle East and energy conservation measures. As part of that policy, 50 percent of staff had been allowed to work from home.

However, authorities have now withdrawn that decision and reinstated the previous schedule to ensure that citizens do not face difficulties in obtaining passports.

Reporter: Awais Kiyani