DGIP Issued 13 Million Pakistani Passports During Last Two Years – 2023-24 Report

As per the 2023-24 report by Directorate General of Immigration and Passport, 13 million passports were issued during last two years. DGIP is the responsible department for the issuance of Pakistani passport and immigration related matters to assist Ministry of Interior.

Round the Clock Pakistani Passport Issuance Services

The report by DGIP states that the directorate has been working 24/7 to clear the backlog and for the quick and efficient issuance of Pakistani passport to applicants. The report state that around 71 million passports were issued during last 2 decades including 55 million machine readable passports. The directorate collected Rs295.7 billion as passport fee for different categories during last 16 years with an average earning of PKR 20 billion.

Online Passport Application and Passport Renewal

Thanks to the state-of-the-art technology, Pakistanis can submit online passport application or apply for passport renewal. Earlier, this facility was limited to overseas Pakistani diaspora only. However, to facilitate the inland passport applicants who can’t visit the local regional passport office (RPOs), passport department successfully launched online passport facility for people from Pakistan.

Here are the statistics about online passport application and issuance during1st September 2024 to 31^st December 2024:

Issuance of Pakistani Citizenship and Renunciation Certificates

The Directorate General of Immigration and Passports is the body to manage the immigration related services in Pakistan. The department is responsible for issuance of Pakistani citizenship, renunciation of certificates and naturalization. As per available data for the period 21-8-2023 to 21-12-2024, 4447 Pakistanis got renunciation certificates as they got second citizenship of another country.

Mainly, people from Pakistani diaspora applied for cancellation of Pakistani citizenship which takes around 3 to 4 weeks after application submission. The report highlights that 53 people were issued with Pakistan citizenship certificates while 1 Pakistan naturalization certificate was issued.

Passport Control List Pakistan / Exit Control List

The Passport Control List Pakistan also known as the Exit Control List, empowers the DG I & P under Pakistan Passport Rules 2021 to regulate the departure from Pakistan and entry into Pakistan of people listed in PCL. Under the Passport Act 1974, the DG I&P can also control visits of Pakistanis to foreign countries. PCL list Pakistan includes names and relevant data of individuals. As per the report, DG I & P has listed 77956 people on the Passport Control List and 17284 people were removed from the PCL list.

What is the Passport Control List?

Passport Control List or passport blacklist empowers the Ministry of Interior of Pakistan to restrict entry or exit of individuals or even banning them from obtaining the Pakistani passport for traveling abroad. PCL is also used to initiate the deportation of Pakistani people from foreign countries due to legal proceedings against them.

What is the Exit Control List Pakistan?

Exit Control List or ECL Pakistan is a list maintained by the Ministry of Interior under DG I&P that prohibit a person from leaving Pakistan.

What is Machine Readable Passport?

The machine readable passport is a travel document aligned with the requirements of International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). These passports include data about identity of individual and are readable by MRP passport machines at airports and immigration points to enter or leave a country.

How to get an MRP Passport in Pakistan and What is the MRP Passport Fee?

Any citizen of Pakistan can get an MRP passport by applying at the nearby regional passport office or passport office at Pakistan missions abroad. MRP passport documents for 18 and above include:

• Original CNIC/NICOP, along with its photocopy
• Previous passport if any and its photocopy
• Lost passport police report in case of a passport lost
• NOC from the concerned department for government or semi-government or autonomous bodies
• Foreign passport and its photocopy for dual citizens
• MRP passport fee is (rupees 4500 for 36 pages MRP passport with 5 years validity and rupees 7500 on an urgent basis)

What is an NFC Enabled Passport?

NFC enabled passport (Near Field Communication) is a type of e passport that stores the data of passport holder. NFC enabled passports have a chip that helps in electronic reading of data including biometrics and personal details.

How to Apply for an NFC passport Pakistan and What is the NFC Passport Fee?

NFC passport Pakistan is an e passport that stores data in a chip that is readable electronically at airport entry check points. The fee for an ordinary NFC passport with 36 pages and 5 years validity is 9000 rupees and NFC passport fee with 10 years validity is PKR 13500.