What is a Blue Passport in Pakistan? 42 Top Taxpayers Receive Special Status

The federal government has approved the issuance of blue passports to 42 high-tax-paying individuals who have been designated as ambassadors-at-large on the directives of the Prime Minister, according to the Directorate General of Immigration and Passports (DGIP).

Director General of Immigration and Passports Muhammad Ali Randhawa said most passports had been issued and it was a special facilitation for the country’s top taxpayers.

Proposal for Special-Coloured Passports Under Review

The DGIP also announced that a proposal is before them to issue special coloured passports to businessmen who pay taxes beyond a fixed limit. The plan is under review in consultation with the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and Ministry of Commerce with a view to encouraging compliance and expanding the tax base.

Home Delivery Service for Passports Planned Nationwide

The passport authority is also launching a nationwide home delivery facility for passport in a big convenience move. It is currently being discussed with a courier company and a service will be formally introduced after an agreement is signed.

The proposed system will enable the applicant to get their passport directly to their house in Islamabad with a nominal courier fee. The service is later be expanded to overseas Pakistanis in a second phase, officials said.

Chatbot and Digital Services to Ease Public Access

The DGIP is also working on launching an AI-based chatbot to assist passport applicants. The tool will offer guidance on application procedures, documents required for an application and give real-time updates on the status of the application, and will help alleviate the strain on the department’s expanding call centre.

Shift Towards Cashless Passport Payments

In yet another overhaul, the DGIP said that payments of passport fees through the National Bank branches will cease after June 30. The government, however, is preparing to launch QR code digital payments via banking apps to limit the manual process and eliminate agents in the system.

Officials said these reforms are part of a wider digital transformation strategy to make passport services faster, more transparent, and citizen-friendly.