In a significant policy shift, the Directorate General of Immigration and Passports has announced that Pakistani citizens can now apply for passports at any passport office across the country, irrespective of their registered address on the National Identity Card. This change, aimed at simplifying the application process, is expected to benefit those needing services outside their home jurisdictions.

The amendment to Rule 6 of the Passport Rules 2021 was initially proposed to the Ministry of Interior and vetted by the Law Division. Following endorsement by the Federal Cabinet, the updated rule requires all passport-issuing authorities to accept applications from citizens nationwide, eliminating the previous address-based restrictions.

According to the official directive, every Pakistani citizen can now access passport services at any passport office, regardless of the address on their Computerized National Identity Card (CNIC), National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis (NICOP), or Child Registration Certificate (CRC). Zonal heads have been instructed to implement this revised rule to ensure accessibility for all citizens.

This policy change mandates that no passport services should be denied based on address or jurisdiction, thereby easing the application process and providing greater convenience to the public, particularly for those living or working away from their permanent residence.