The announcement was made by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi while chairing a high-level meeting at the Passport and Immigration Headquarters on Friday. He said the move aims to modernize the passport system, improve security, and align it with international standards.

Officials said the new e-passports will significantly reduce the risk of forgery and fraud. Each passport will contain an advanced electronic chip carrying biometric and identity data, ensuring secure verification of travelers.

According to briefing details shared by the Directorate General of Immigration and Passports, the decision for full adoption of e-passports has been approved in principle. However, no final timeline has been announced for the complete phase-out of machine-readable passports.

E-passports use NFC-based chip technology that stores biometric details, identity records, and digital signatures. The system is designed to speed up immigration processing and enable the use of e-gates at international airports.

Authorities confirmed that Pakistan’s e-passports comply with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards, allowing Pakistani travelers to benefit from faster clearance procedures at airports worldwide.

The meeting also decided to introduce a cashless payment system across passport offices nationwide starting July 1, eliminating cash transactions.

In addition, plans are underway to deliver passports directly to citizens’ homes, particularly for overseas Pakistanis. The government is also upgrading the Pak-ID platform to streamline and accelerate online passport applications.