Islamabad is set to become the first city in Pakistan to introduce a modern e-immigration system next month, a move aimed at ending long queues at airports and ensuring smoother travel for passengers.
The Interior Ministry has formally approved the system, which will gradually be rolled out nationwide.
New era of airport travel
The e-immigration system will allow passengers to provide their details through a mobile application, sending information directly to the immigration department. Instead of waiting at counters, travelers will simply pass through e-gates for clearance.
Officials confirmed that the system is being launched first at Islamabad Airport, with plans to expand it across other major airports in the coming months.
How the system works
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Passenger details will be submitted via an app before travel.
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Data will automatically reach the immigration department.
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Travelers can pass through e-gates without visiting manual counters.
The ministry also approved the digital FIR system, designed to make filing police reports easier for citizens.
Karachi airport chaos
The development comes at a time when passengers at Karachi Airport have been facing severe delays due to a shortage of immigration staff, worsened by recent rains. As a result, long queues of passengers could be seen at immigration counters.
Passengers have been facing difficulties at Karachi Airport for three days, with foreign flights being delayed. According to airport sources, more than 40 foreign flights operate at the Karachi Airport in 12 hours. The officials said that due to the accumulated rainwater on roads, sufficient immigration staff could not reach the airport on time.
According to sources, only 12 of the 20 immigration counters were functional, while just 169 out of 231 approved staff were available. Many officers reportedly worked up to 18-hour shifts to manage the situation, yet long queues and flight delays persisted, the sources added.
