By: Abid Siddique Chaudhry
The World Ambassador (TWA)
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Islamabad: A high-level delegation from Turkey visited the Passport Headquarters in Islamabad, marking an important development in Pakistan foreign affairs, diplomatic engagement, and international cooperation. The visit highlighted Pakistan’s modern passport system, digital reforms, and advanced security infrastructure, positioning the country as a key player in global travel document security.
Detailed Briefing and Institutional Exchange
During the visit, Mustafa Jamal Qazi, Director General of Passports, warmly received the Turkish delegation and provided a comprehensive briefing on the overall functioning of the Passport Department.
The delegation was briefed on Pakistan’s modern passport security features, standardized service delivery mechanisms, and passport production processes aligned with international standards.
In addition, the delegation received a special briefing on Secure Hybrid Intelligence for Knowledge Band Response Analytics (SHIKRA), an advanced system regarded as a major milestone in passport security and data analytics.
Digitalization and E-Passports
The Turkish delegation was also informed about the ongoing digitalization initiatives, institutional reforms, and citizen-centric services within Pakistan’s Passport Department.
DG Passports stated that the introduction of e-passports and advanced security features has effectively eliminated the concept of forged and counterfeit passports in Pakistan.
Expressing keen interest, the Turkish delegation particularly appreciated Pakistan’s e-passport production capabilities and state-of-the-art security framework, acknowledging them as being in line with global best practices.
Pakistan’s Role in Global Cooperation
Pakistan continues to strengthen its diplomatic relations, promote global cooperation, and modernize its identity and travel document systems. Developments in the passport sector play a crucial role in enhancing trust within the international community and ensuring safer international travel.
The visit is being viewed as a positive step toward further strengthening technical cooperation and institutional collaboration between Pakistan and Turkey. Experts believe that the engagement may pave the way for future collaboration in security technology, digital governance, and passport system modernization, reinforcing bilateral ties between the two countries.
