ISLAMABAD: To support the Pakistani diaspora, the federal government has announced that passports and essential travel documents will now be issued within a one-week timeframe.
This expedited service is designed to ensure that Pakistani nationals fully capitalise on Spain’s upcoming registration drive aimed at regularising undocumented immigrants. The decision was formalised during a strategic meeting at the Ministry of Interior, co-chaired by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis Salik Hussain. The session brought together a broad coalition of leadership, including the federal secretary interior, director general FIA, and senior representatives from Nadra and Passport Department. Pakistan’s diplomatic mission in Spain, led by Ambassador Dr Zahoor Ahmed and Consul General Barcelona Muhammad Ali Wazir, participated via video link to coordinate the ground-level execution of these directives.
Salik highlighted the scale of the initiative, noting that approximately 15,000 Pakistanis are expected to benefit from the Spanish regularisation scheme. He expressed appreciation for the Ministry of Interior’s proactive stance in removing bureaucratic hurdles for citizens living abroad. Mohsin underscored that the swift issuance of passports remains a top national priority. However, he balanced this urgency with a strict directive to enforcement agencies, mandating rigorous checks to ensure that no individuals with criminal records or active warrants are issued travel documents. To manage the anticipated surge in applications, the minister ordered an immediate increase in staffing for the passport sections at the Pakistani Embassy and Consulate in Spain.
In addition to passport services, the government has overhauled the verification process for police character certificates. Mohsin confirmed that the National Police Bureau has simplified and accelerated its protocols to ensure these vital documents are processed on a priority basis.
Providing an update from the region, Dr Zahoor and Murad briefed the cabinet members on the progress already achieved through inter-institutional cooperation. They reported a marked improvement in document turnaround times and confirmed that the embassy and consulate have already issued authority letters to 10,000 individuals, clearing the path for their legal transition under the Spanish law.
