Pakistan Lifts Ban on Passports for Asylum Seekers

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar announced the withdrawal of the June 5, 2024 circular that suspended the issuance of passports to Pakistani nationals seeking asylum abroad. The decision was made during a high-level meeting focused on the welfare of overseas Pakistanis.

The meeting, attended by the foreign secretary, interior secretary, Director General of Immigration and Passports, and senior officers of the foreign ministry, included a detailed briefing by the interior secretary and DG Immigration and Passports on the timely issuance of passports to overseas Pakistanis. The authorities assured that passports for Pakistani expatriates would now be issued within 60 days.

Previously, the Passport and Immigration Directorate, on the order of Mohsin Naqvi, had banned the issuance of passports to asylum seekers. The Ministry of Interior had stated in a letter that Pakistani citizens who obtain asylum in other countries, regardless of the basis, would not be issued Pakistani passports.