In a recent move by the federal government, Pakistan has witnessed a substantial hike in fees for machine-readable passports, impacting citizens in both normal and urgent application categories. This decision, coming at a time of economic challenges, places an additional burden on the populace.
Revised Normal Passport Fees (Effective March 7, 2024):
- 36 Pages:
- 5 years validity: Rs4,500
- 10 years validity: Rs6,700
- 72 Pages:
- 5 years validity: Rs8,200
- 10 years validity: Rs12,400
- 100 Pages:
- 5 years validity: Rs9,000
- 10 years validity: Rs13,500
The fee for a 36-page passport with a five-year validity has surged from Rs3,000 to Rs4,500 in the normal category. Similarly, the normal fee for a 72-page ordinary passport with a five-year validity has been increased to Rs8,200, while the 100-page passport fee now stands at Rs9,000.
For those seeking a longer validity period, the normal fee for a 10-year validity 36-page passport has been raised to Rs6,700, up from Rs4,500. The 72-page passport with a decade-long validity now incurs a fee of Rs12,400, and the 100-page passport fee for the same duration is set at Rs13,500.
This move is expected to impact citizens facing financial constraints, raising concerns about accessibility to essential travel documents. As the government justifies this increase, citizens grapple with the implications of additional financial strain during these challenging times. Stay tuned for further developments on this matter.
