Pakistan’s New ePassport

A brief review of the launch of Pakistan’s ePassport in August’s edition of ID & Secure Document News™ is followed up here with a more detailed examination of the new document.

The ePassport is already very common and used in more than 150 countries worldwide. Most countries prefer, and have already switched to ePassport to stay up to date with better border security protocols.

In Pakistan, the ePassport was launched on 30 March 2022 to boost security and smooth international travel for its citizens. The first such passport was issued to the then Prime Minister of Pakistan, followed by diplomatic and government officials.

The Directorate General Immigration & Passports started to issue all categories of passport, including ordinary ePassports, from Islamabad on 10 June 2023, and the programme was inaugurated nationwide on 16 August 2023.

The ePassport is a highly secure travel document that complies with ICAO standards. It has a contactless (CHECK) electronic chip embedded in one of the passport pages, which includes the biometrics of the passport holder, the personal data found on the data page of the passport, a unique identification number and a digital signature.

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The use of false documents is common in Pakistan, but this can be prevented by using biometric data to link people with their passports. It is believed that ePassports will help decrease identity scams and can be utilised at border control too. The data of travellers will be retrieved, and their photographs verified using the microchip in the passport, which will also make the process of renewing passports easier.

Foreign nationals and tourists from those countries that have already implemented electronic passport systems will be able to travel to Pakistan with ease due to the renewal of the country’s electronic infrastructure at the country’s airports. These small but significant improvements will contribute to the implementation of trade incentives and the promotion of tourism in Pakistan. Likewise, Pakistani travellers will also be able to take advantage of the electronic immigration gate facility at airports worldwide.

However, it has been reported that individuals in Pakistan are experiencing difficulties in obtaining their passports in a timely fashion, which is causing significant delays and affecting their travel plans. The concerned authorities need to adopt appropriate strategies to redress the grievances of the people and ensure the issuance of ePassports within agreed timeframes without causing any inconvenience.

eGates

In related news, the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) has reportedly initiated the first phase of the installation of eGates in the country’s three main international airports: Islamabad, Allama Iqbal, and Jinnah International Airport.

The project is being closely supervised by the Aviation Secretary and the Director- General of the Civil Aviation Authority, with input from the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA).