Web Desk: Pakistan recorded an unprecedented rise in passport issuance during 2025, reflecting improvements in public services and administrative reforms, according to the annual report from the Directorate General of Immigration and Passports. The report stated that more than 5.5 million passports were issued last year, including 3.2 million regular, 1.8 million urgent, and 276,000 fast-track passports. Officials said the increase across all categories helped provide citizens with faster and more efficient services.
The report also highlighted a significant trend toward electronic passports, with a growing number of applicants opting for them over traditional booklets. Authorities attributed this preference to rising public confidence in modernised services and enhanced processing systems
The improvements followed reforms introduced under the leadership of the Director General of Passports, implemented in line with directives from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi. Upgraded printing machines eliminated long-standing backlogs, while passport processing times decreased considerably
For the first time, the department launched a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week passport application and delivery service, enabling citizens to submit requests at any time. Passport headquarters and regional offices underwent extensive renovations to provide modern facilities for visitors; there are no more long queues that used to exist in the passport office anymore.
The report noted that services for overseas Pakistanis were expanded through one-window operations at embassies, simplifying passport-related procedures. New passports also incorporated enhanced security features, and the coverage of passport offices and counters across the country was extended to allow more citizens to access services
Officials said the record increase in passport issuance demonstrates both public demand and the effectiveness of government reforms, signalling a major step forward in improving citizen services in Pakistan.
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