The Pakistan blue passport update is that the number of official (blue) passports has been cut from 74,000 to 49,000. Muhammad Ali Randhawa, who heads the immigration and passports directorate, gave the figures on Wednesday. He tied the reduction to international commitments and everyday administrative needs.
Randhawa shared the numbers with Senate Deputy Chairman Syedaal Khan Nasar during a meeting. The two also reviewed how passports are issued at present, how the directorate has performed, security features and public facilities. Officials framed the wider measure as a way to strengthen passport security and lift Pakistan's passport ranking.
Senate review of passport services
Nasar praised the government's steps to improve the issuance system and adopt modern technology. He called the directorate's performance and institutional reforms commendable, while urging further modernisation to match current needs. He said digital tools should be expanded at each stage, from filing an application to handing over the finished passport, so that the process is quicker and easier to reach.
Nasar also said citizens should not have to face avoidable delays, long waits or paperwork complications. He added that a clear mechanism is needed to resolve complaints quickly, which he said would help build public confidence.
A NADRA-based issuance proposal
The meeting also discussed a proposal to offer passport issuance through NADRA, the state body that keeps national identity records. It was described as a step to be rolled out soon. No start date has been announced so far, and details on how the lower number of official passports will affect applicants are not yet available.
Aasan alfaaz mein
Pakistan mein official (blue) passports ki tadad 74,000 se kam ho kar 49,000 reh gayi hai, jaisa ke Immigration aur Passports ke Director General Muhammad Ali Randhawa ne Senate Deputy Chairman ko bataya. Randhawa ke mutabiq yeh qadam international commitments aur administrative zaroorat ke liye uthaya gaya hai. NADRA ke zariye passport issuance ki tajweez par baat hui hai, lekin is ki date abhi nahi batayi gayi. Aam shehri ke liye ahem baat yeh hai ke passport ka process jaldi aur asan ho, aur shikayat ka jaldi hal nikle.
