Pakistan to block passports of deported citizens

Islamabad: In a decisive move to strengthen immigration controls, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has directed the immediate blocking of passports belonging to individuals who have been deported from foreign countries.

The directive was issued during a high-level meeting at the Directorate General of Immigration and Passports (DGI&P), chaired by Minister Naqvi.

The session was attended by Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry, the Interior Secretary, and the Director General of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).

DGI&P Director General Mustafa Jamal Kazi briefed the participants on the department’s ongoing initiatives and reforms. As part of the upgrades, he announced that a dedicated mobile application will soon be launched to assist citizens with passport-related services.

Minister Naqvi emphasized the urgency of finalizing the legal framework to support the new regulations, noting that these measures are essential to curb illegal immigration and address issues such as cross-border begging.

He also underscored that such reforms will contribute to a more credible and robust immigration system.

Read more: Nadra blocks Arshad Chaiwala’s CNIC, passport over Afghan refugees row

Minister Talal Chaudhry added that the decision to block passports of deported individuals would send a strong message to the international community, reinforcing Pakistan’s commitment to orderly and lawful migration practices.

During the visit, Minister Naqvi also inspected six newly installed Machine-Readable Passport (MRP) machines and two e-passport systems, expected to significantly enhance the efficiency and capacity of passport issuance across the country.

The upgrade was supported through collaboration with a Pakistan-Germany technical team, with whom the Minister held brief discussions.

The meeting concluded with a renewed commitment to improving public service delivery and ensuring a streamlined, modern immigration process for Pakistani citizens.