The Directorate General of Immigration and Passports (DGI&P) has stopped all passport services at Pakistani embassies and consulates around the world. The reason is a serious technical problem at its main office in Islamabad.
According to official notices, passport operations at all foreign missions will stay suspended until the issue is fixed. Pakistani embassies in countries like the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, and others have informed overseas Pakistanis through social media and notices. They advise people not to visit embassies for new passports, renewals, or other services for now.
The problem started around April 29-30, 2026. It affects the central system used for processing applications, including biometric data. A high-level meeting was held with IT experts, but services remain down. Some embassies first called it scheduled maintenance, but it has now become a wider disruption lasting several days.
This suspension is causing difficulties for many Pakistanis living abroad. Many need passports for jobs, visas, family travel, or residency papers. Thousands of expats in the Gulf and Europe are now worried about delays.
DGI&P officials say they are working hard to solve the technical fault. Updates will be shared on official embassy pages and the DGI&P website. Overseas Pakistanis are asked to check these channels regularly and avoid unnecessary trips to missions.
The government hopes to restore services soon. This event shows how important strong digital systems are for passport services that millions of Pakistanis rely on.
