ISLAMABAD: Citizens across Pakistan will no longer have to stand in long bank queues to pay passport fees, as the Directorate General of Immigration & Passports has officially launched a nationwide cashless payment system at all passport offices.
The announcement was made by Director General Immigration & Passports, Chaudhry Muhammad Ali Randhawa, who said the new system allows applicants to pay passport fees through digital channels under a simplified and citizen-friendly process. The initiative aims to improve service delivery, reduce waiting times, and make passport-related transactions more transparent and efficient.
The reform marks a major step in the government’s broader digital transformation agenda. Under the new mechanism, applicants can complete fee payments electronically instead of making cash deposits at designated bank branches before visiting passport offices.
Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, in a statement on X, congratulated DG Passports Chaudhry Muhammad Ali Randhawa and the entire passport team on the successful implementation of the nationwide cashless payment system. He said the reform, introduced on the directions of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, will free citizens from long queues and hours of waiting while ensuring faster and more transparent passport services.
The move builds on earlier digital payment initiatives introduced during the tenure of former DG Passports Mustafa Jamal Qazi, when the PSID-based online payment system enabled applicants to deposit passport fees digitally through banking channels. Discussions were also held at that time to expand payment options through digital wallets, including JazzCash, although those plans were not fully implemented before the change in leadership.
After assuming charge as DG Immigration & Passports, Chaudhry Muhammad Ali Randhawa continued the modernization process by further expanding digital payment infrastructure. The latest nationwide rollout of a fully cashless payment system represents another milestone in the department’s efforts to modernize passport services and improve the overall experience for citizens.
Officials believe the reform will significantly reduce congestion at banks and passport offices, streamline service delivery, and support Pakistan’s broader vision of digital governance and public-sector reforms.
