Web Desk: Pakistani citizens will be able to access selected e-passport services at all National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) centres from Sept. 7, according to an official spokesperson.
The expansion will allow citizens across the country, including those in Karachi, to apply for e-passport renewals and reprints through NADRA centres.
Under the new arrangement, NADRA centres will provide facilities for renewing existing e-passports and obtaining reprints.
However, applicants seeking a first-time e-passport, changes to passport details or the issuance of a new machine-readable passport will still have to visit designated passport offices.
Authorities will gradually wind down passport counters operating inside NADRA centres and recall the staff assigned to those facilities, according to the announcement.
The expanded service will operate under an agreement between NADRA and the Directorate General of Immigration and Passports.
The arrangement is intended to make passport-related services more accessible by allowing citizens to complete routine renewal and reprint procedures through NADRA’s nationwide network.
Meanwhile, new passports and applications requiring changes will continue to be handled through passport offices.
Pakistan’s e-passports contain an embedded electronic chip that stores the holder’s biometric and personal information.
The documents are designed to comply with standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization, helping facilitate secure verification during international travel.
In addition, the e-passport incorporates several security technologies, including near-field communication (NFC), laser engraving and infrared and ultraviolet features.
These measures are intended to strengthen document security while making identity checks at airports faster and more reliable.
The expansion of e-passport services through NADRA centres is expected to give citizens more options for completing routine passport procedures without having to visit dedicated passport offices.
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