Pakistan to stop issuing machine-readable passports within a month

The government has made the decision to stop issuing machine-readable passports and switch to electronic passports, or “e-passports,” which will be issued nationally in less than a month.

The National Assembly was notified by the Ministry of Interior that machine-readable passports would be discontinued within a month, according to media sources. Following the shift, passport offices nationwide and Pakistani embassies overseas would only issue e-passports. Passports that are now machine-readable, however, will still be valid until their expiration dates.

In response to a question from National Assembly member Malik Shakir Bashir Awan during question hour, Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs, stated that Pakistan was transitioning to e-passports in keeping with technical advancements in the international immigration system.

He stated that the administration was working to implement the system as quickly as possible and that the electronic chip included in the new passports will assist prevent forgery.

According to Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, there may be some delays in the project due to the nation’s large population and the administrative difficulties passport offices confront. He did, however, add that the government was still determined to implement the system within a month.

The National Assembly also decided that, given the demands of international travel, updating the current passport system was essential. Travelers’ identities and travel details will be verified by the chip in e-passports.