Islamabad: The federal government of Pakistan has made a pivotal change to the passport regulations, now permitting citizens to apply for passports in any city regardless of their registered address on their Computerized National Identity Card (CNIC). This amendment is set to simplify the process and broaden access to passport services across the nation.

According to Zameen.Com, led by Mustafa Jamal Qazi, a notification about the new passport rules has been sent to regional offices throughout the country. With these changes, applications will no longer be declined due to a mismatch between the CNIC address and the application submission location.

This policy update follows a commitment by the government to address the public’s complaints concerning prolonged delays in passport processing. In a recent session, the Minister for Law and Justice, Azam Nazeer Tarar, detailed the government’s strategy to improve efficiency through the installation of new machinery and software, which is expected to increase daily passport issuance capacity from 26,000 to 60,000. These steps are intended to enhance the quality of service and reduce waiting times for passport applicants nationwide.

The reforms are part of a comprehensive effort to improve the delivery of public services and ensure more convenient travel for Pakistani citizens.