Balochistan residents to receive passports free of charge

Chief Minister of Balochistan Mir Sarfaraz Bugti has announced that citizens will be issued free passports.

During the launch of the computerized arms license system in Quetta, he revealed that the provincial government had reached an agreement with the passport office to streamline this process for the public.

CM Bugti stated, “The government will cover the cost of passports for the citizens.” He also mentioned that the government would finance the Rs16,000 fee for Chaman residents to receive free digital passports through the one-document system.

Bugti emphasized that technology is enhancing the government’s efforts toward effective governance and added that the digital arms license system would be implemented across Balochistan.

Previously, delays in issuing Pakistani passports were raised in the National Assembly. In response to a call attention notice from Pakistan People’s Party’s Aga Rafiullah, Minister for Law and Justice Azam Nazir Tarar stated that the government is working to expedite the passport issuance process.

Tarar noted that daily demand for passports has surged to 44,000, while only 25,000 to 26,000 passports are being processed daily in Pakistan. “With the software update, the number of passports issued daily is expected to reach 60,000 by September,” Tarar said.

He acknowledged the ‘extraordinary’ delays and assured that the issue would be addressed.