In a significant policy shift, the government has decided to immediately withdraw the circular that suspended the Pakistani passports of asylum seekers abroad.
This decision was made during a high-level meeting chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar.
During the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Dar was briefed on various issues concerning the welfare of overseas Pakistanis. It was decided that the circular suspending the passports of Pakistani asylum seekers abroad would be rescinded without delay.
Additionally, Dar was informed that passports for overseas Pakistanis will be issued within 60 days.
The meeting also included discussions on ensuring the timely issuance of passports to Pakistanis living abroad. The session was attended by senior officials, including the foreign secretary, Interior secretary, DG immigration and passport, and representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
This decision is expected to provide much-needed relief to Pakistani asylum seekers and streamline passport issuance processes for overseas Pakistanis, reinforcing the government’s commitment to addressing their concerns.
Last month, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi directed his ministry to stop issuing passports to Pakistanis seeking asylum abroad. The move was believed to be aimed at bolstering national security and safety.
The decision came as part of efforts to curb the unauthorized migration of Pakistani citizens under the guise of asylum-seeking. According to sources, individuals seeking asylum abroad for any reason would be ineligible to obtain a Pakistani passport.
Furthermore, the Interior Ministry clarified that passports of individuals already seeking asylum abroad will neither be canceled nor renewed.
The Interior Ministry had then dispatched a formal letter to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other relevant authorities to implement the new policy effectively.
