Govt slashes passport delivery time to 14 days, orders offices to go cashless

ISLAMABAD: In a major decision, the government has reduced the processing period of ordinary passports from 21 days to 14 days and mandated all passport offices to implement a fully cashless system in 15 days.

The decision was made in a high-level meeting held under the chairmanship of Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Minister of State for Interior Tallal Chaudhry in Islamabad.

“We have reduced the period of issuance of normal passports from 21 days to 14 days,” Naqvi informed in an official handout.

Moreover, the minister said, “A complete cashless system will be established in passport offices,” and instructed passport authorities to terminate cash dealings at all passport offices in 15 days.

“The abolishment of cash dealings would put an end to the agent mafia and facilitate citizens,” said Naqvi.

It may be noted that the new timeline of 14 days for ordinary passports is now applicable immediately.

Furthermore, officials were also asked to finalize a different category of ‘business passport’ and streamline the home delivery process of passports, the statement added.

In his remarks, Naqvi emphasized that setting up a dedicated passport authority was “extremely essential.”

The development comes as passport offices struggle with long queues and complaints of delays. Demand for passports has surged since 2022, with over 6.5 million issued in 2023 alone, according to immigration data. Applicants also complain of being forced to pay agents for faster processing.