The federal government has announced a major overhaul of Pakistan’s passport system, introducing new security features aimed at preventing passport forgery and identity fraud.

According to Radio Pakistan, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi revealed the plan during his visit to the Beijing Public Security Passport Bureau, where he was received by Director General Sun Yu. The minister toured various departments of the bureau and received a detailed briefing on China’s passport and immigration system, from application processing to passport printing.

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Naqvi praised China’s efficient and secure immigration framework and said Pakistan is also developing a fast-track and comprehensive passport and immigration system. He added that Pakistan is working to adopt a modern immigration model similar to Beijing’s system.

Meanwhile, the Directorate General of Passports and Immigration released its annual performance report for 2025, calling the year “transformational” under the directives of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the interior minister.

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The report stated that the installation of modern printing machines permanently eliminated the long-standing passport backlog. In 2025 alone, a record 5.57 million passports were issued — the highest number in Pakistan’s history.

Out of these, 3.27 million normal, 1.83 million urgent, and 276,789 fast-track passports were issued. Authorities also credited 24-hour passport offices and a growing public shift toward e-passports for improving service delivery.