Getting a passport just got easier. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi confirmed that cashless transactions are now operational at every passport office in the country.
Applicants no longer need to carry cash or stand in long lines just to pay fees. You can now use QR codes and digital payments instead.
The move was made on the directions of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Officials say the goal is faster service, more transparency, and less hassle for citizens.
This reform also aims to end the role of middlemen. With no cash changing hands at counters, the “agent mafia” loses its grip on the process.
The shift to cashless payments comes with other upgrades too. Normal passport delivery time has been cut from 21 days to 14 days.
A passport mobile app is being rolled out. It will let people apply, renew, track applications, and access services from their phones.
Home delivery of passports is also being strengthened. Soon, more applicants will receive their passports at their doorstep without repeat visits.
The government is working on a new “business passport” category as well. Plans are underway to set up a dedicated Passport Authority to improve service long term.
Naqvi praised the passport team for delivering the change quickly. “Many more milestones lie ahead,” he said.
For now, citizens can expect quicker, cleaner, and more convenient passport services nationwide.
