The federal government has appointed Chaudhry Muhammad Ali Randhawa as Director General of Immigration and Passports, following his removal from the posts of Chief Commissioner Islamabad and Chairman of the Capital Development Authority (CDA). The new role places him at the forefront of efforts to modernize and digitize the country’s passport and immigration services.

An official notification from the Establishment Division confirmed that Randhawa, a BS-20 officer of the Pakistan Administrative Service, has assumed his duties under the Interior and Narcotics Control Division with immediate effect.

Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has instructed the new DG to implement comprehensive reforms aimed at transforming the existing system into a fully paperless framework. The initiative seeks to enhance efficiency, reduce delays, and improve the overall public experience in obtaining passports and immigration services.

Authorities said the reforms will prioritize streamlining procedures, increasing transparency, and ensuring quicker service delivery across the country, with citizen convenience at the heart of the plan.

Randhawa had earlier been relieved from his role as Islamabad’s top administrative official and directed to report to the Establishment Division before being reassigned. This change was part of a broader administrative reshuffle in the federal capital.

In the same reshuffle, Lt. (Retd.) Sohail Ashraf was appointed as the new Chief Commissioner Islamabad. A Grade-20 PAS officer, Ashraf previously served as Secretary Communications and Works in Punjab and held field assignments as Deputy Commissioner of Faisalabad and Mandi Bahauddin. He is expected to take on the additional charge of CDA chairman, with an official notification from the Ministry of Interior expected shortly.