Govt cuts passport processing time to 14 days, plans cashless system

The federal government has announced a series of reforms aimed at improving passport services and easing difficulties faced by citizens, officials said on Tuesday.

The decisions were taken during a high-level meeting chaired by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, with Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry also in attendance.

According to official details, the processing time for issuance of a normal passport has been reduced from 21 days to 14 days. The move is expected to expedite service delivery and address longstanding delays in passport issuance.

The interior minister also directed authorities to implement a fully cashless system at passport offices across the country. Officials said the transition to digital payments would be completed within the next 15 days.

Speaking during the meeting, Naqvi said eliminating cash transactions would help curb the influence of middlemen, often referred to as the “agent mafia”, while ensuring greater transparency and convenience for applicants.