‘No city restriction’: Govt announces major facility for passport applicants

In a significant move to overhaul the passport services, the federal government has introduced amendments to the passport regulations.

The new changes will enable citizens to obtain or renew passports from any city nationwide, abolishing the need to visit specific regional offices.

Under the revised rules, applicants can now deposit fees for all passport categories at any branch of the National Bank, further simplifying the process.

The Ministry of Interior has submitted a summary of the amendments to the cabinet for approval. Once ratified, the changes will facilitate the issuance of passports in a similar manner to national identity cards, ensuring a smoother and more efficient system for all applicants.

The revised regulations are part of the government’s efforts to improve public services and reduce bureaucratic hurdles.

By allowing passports to be issued or renewed from any city, the government aims to increase accessibility and reduce the burden on regional offices.

With the new rules, applicants can now easily obtain or renew passports without having to travel long distances.

Currently, Pakistan is positioned at 100th, providing passport holders access to 33 countries. At the bottom of the list is Afghanistan with easy access to 26 destinations.

Meanwhile, India’s passport ranked 82nd on the list, with citizens allowed to travel to 58 countries without a visa.

The Henley Passport Index is a worldwide list that ranks countries based on their citizens’ travel freedom.

The ranking is determined by data provided by the International Air Transport Authority (IATA), which maintains the most extensive and precise database of travel information worldwide.

Singapore passport has been named the world’s most powerful passport, offering visa-free access to 195 countries, as per the list. France, Italy, Germany and Spain tied with Japan in second place, providing passport holders access to 192 countries.

Then, in third place in the ranking, Austria, Finland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Netherlands, South Korea, and Sweden all have visa-free access to 191 destinations.

The United Kingdom is the fourth place, alongside New Zealand, Norway, Belgium, Denmark and Switzerland. Australia and Portugal shared the No. 5 spot, while the United States dropped down to eighth place, with visa-free access to 186 countries.