Islamabad, Jan 1: In 2024, Pakistan saw a decrease of 121,418 in the number of passports issued compared to 2023, despite a rise in demand for international travel. A total of 6,596,520 passports were issued, down from 6,717,938 the previous year. However, there was a significant increase in applications for e-passports.
Key Statistics:
- Passport Issuance: A total of 715,074 passports were issued to overseas Pakistanis, while 5,206,234 were granted to citizens residing within the country.
- E-Passports: 257,398 e-passports were issued, and 252,141 passports were processed online.
- Revenue: The passport fee revenue amounted to Rs. 47.64 billion, a notable contribution to the national treasury.
- Demographics: The highest number of passport holders were women, with 9,659,312 passports issued. Additionally, 1,768,341 men and 523 transgender individuals obtained passports.
- Processing Statistics: 3,056,427 new passports were processed, while 2,541,170 renewals were completed.
Process Improvements:
Despite initial delays, Mustafa Jamal Qazi, the Passport Director General, confirmed that the passport processing had improved, with citizens now receiving passports within the designated timeframe.
