13 Million Passports Issued in Last Two Years: Directorate General of Immigration & Passports Releases Annual Performance Report

Islamabad: The Directorate General of Immigration and Passports has released its annual performance report, highlighting significant progress and improvements in passport issuance and related services across Pakistan.
According to the report, a total of 13 million passports were issued over the past two years, averaging 6.7 million annually, a sharp increase compared to the 17-year average of 3.4 million passports per year. Over the last 17 years, a total of 55 million passports have been issued nationwide.
The department attributes the surge in demand to improved services, including the elimination of the backlog, establishment of 24/7 operational passport offices, and faster processing times. The number of passport offices across the country has reached 232.
In the past year alone, 130,318 overseas Pakistanis availed online passport services. Additionally, the department has contributed a total of PKR 295.7 billion to the national treasury over the last 16 years, with PKR 40 billion being deposited annually over the past two years—double the previous average.
The report also highlights the issuance of 53 Pakistan Citizenship Certificates, 4,447 Renunciation Certificates, and one Naturalization Certificate during the past year.
In terms of infrastructure, 32 new passport counters were established nationwide. Passport counters have also been introduced in all provincial assemblies and bar councils. Major cities now offer 24/7 passport issuance services.
To improve printing capabilities, the department procured 10 modern passport printers and 6 laminators. Additionally, e-gate systems linked to e-passports are being introduced across the country. The passport mobile application has also been upgraded for user convenience.
Passport office buildings are being upgraded to state-of-the-art facilities, and 73,700 public complaints have been addressed through the Prime Minister’s Performance Delivery Unit (PMDU).
Director General of Passports, Mustafa Jamal Qazi, stated that the department has been restructured to meet modern standards. He emphasized that timely and secure passport delivery remains the department’s top priority and reaffirmed the commitment to providing efficient and accessible services to Pakistanis worldwide.