Pakistan plans nationwide e-passport rollout within a month

Pakistan has announced plans to phase out machine-readable passports and move to electronic passports within about a month, according to information provided by the Interior Ministry in the National Assembly. Under the plan, passport offices in Pakistan and diplomatic missions abroad would issue e-passports once the transition is completed.

The ministry told lawmakers that the issuance of new machine-readable passports, commonly known as MRPs, would be discontinued after the rollout. Passports already issued under the current system will remain valid until their printed expiry dates, meaning existing holders will not need immediate replacement.

Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry said the government was working to introduce the new travel document in response to changing international immigration systems. He said the electronic passport would contain an embedded chip designed to strengthen document security and make forgery more difficult.

The minister said the government intended to complete the transition in roughly one month, but acknowledged that the scale of Pakistan’s population and operational pressures at passport offices could affect the timetable. The announcement therefore sets a target, rather than confirming that every office will switch on the same day.

Electronic passports are widely used internationally because they combine printed identity details with a secure chip that can be read by authorised border-control systems. The change is intended to bring Pakistan’s passport system closer to current global travel-document standards and improve checks during cross-border travel.

For applicants, the important immediate point is that valid machine-readable passports will continue to be accepted until they expire. People seeking a new passport after the transition will instead be issued the electronic version, subject to the government’s final implementation schedule and procedures.

The National Assembly discussion also raised broader questions about travel and immigration data. Lawmakers questioned the classification of Afghan arrivals in tourism figures and called for more accurate accounting of visitors, while the government said it would review the matter.

A successful e-passport rollout could improve security, reduce document fraud risks and support smoother international verification for Pakistani travellers. Its practical value, however, will depend on reliable chip production, efficient application handling, adequate staffing and clear public guidance at passport offices.

The Interior Ministry is expected to issue further operational details before the change takes effect. Applicants should monitor official passport authorities for confirmed dates, fees and any revised requirements rather than relying on unofficial reports.