The federal government has decided to digitize the country’s passport system following thr appointment of ex-Chief Commissioner Islamabad Chaudhry Muhammad Ali Randhawa as Director General of Immigration and Passports.
An official notification issued by the Establishment Division confirmed that Randhawa, a BS-20 officer of the Pakistan Administrative Service, has been posted as Director General under the Interior and Narcotics Control Division with immediate effect.
Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has now directed the new DG to introduce sweeping reforms aimed at digitising the passport and immigration system across the country. The government plans to convert the existing framework into a fully paperless system to improve efficiency, reduce processing delays, and enhance public service delivery.
Officials said the reform initiative will focus on simplifying procedures for citizens, improving transparency, and ensuring faster issuance of passports and immigration services nationwide, with public convenience set as the central objective of the restructuring.
Randhawa had earlier been removed from Islamabad’s top administrative post and asked to report to the Establishment Division before receiving the new assignment. The move formed part of a wider administrative reshuffle in the federal capital.
In the same reshuffle, Lt. (Retd.) Sohail Ashraf was appointed as the new Chief Commissioner Islamabad. The Grade-20 PAS officer previously served as Secretary Communications and Works in the Punjab government and has also held field assignments as Deputy Commissioner Faisalabad and Deputy Commissioner Mandi Bahauddin.
