New Facility for Passport Applicants
The Directorate General of Immigration and Passports (DGIP) has announced a new passport facility for citizens across Pakistan. Passport delivery counters at Regional Passport Offices, Executive Passport Offices, and Passport Processing Counters nationwide will now stay open every Saturday for two months, giving applicants an extra day each week to collect passports that are already printed and ready.
This guide covers what the new facility actually offers, who it helps, the official confirmation behind it, and how it fits into a wider set of passport reforms DGIP has rolled out through 2026.
What Is the New Saturday Passport Facility?
DGIP confirmed the facility through an official notice and a post from its verified account, @DGIPofficial, on September 4, 2026. Passport delivery counters will operate from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm every Saturday, in addition to regular weekday hours, for a period of two months.
Director General of Immigration and Passports Muhammad Ali Randhawa urged applicants, particularly those who cannot visit a passport office during normal working hours, to take advantage of the Saturday facility and collect their passports without delay.
Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Announced by | Directorate General of Immigration and Passports (DGIP) |
| Applies to | Passport delivery counters nationwide |
| Days | Every Saturday |
| Timing | 8:00 am to 4:00 pm |
| Duration | Two months (from September 2026) |
| Purpose | Collection of already-printed, ready passports |
| Warning | Passports unclaimed for over 6 months may be disposed of per government policy |
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Who This Facility Is For
This is a delivery/collection facility, not a new way to apply for a passport. It is meant for applicants whose passports have already been processed and are sitting at a Regional or Executive Passport Office waiting to be picked up. If you’re still waiting for your passport to be printed, this Saturday window does not change your application status or processing time.
The facility is especially useful for:
- Salaried employees who cannot leave work during weekday office hours
- Students with weekday class schedules
- Anyone who previously had to take time off work just to collect a ready passport
Don’t Delay: The Six-Month Rule
DGIP has repeated a standing warning alongside this announcement: passports that remain uncollected for more than six months will be disposed of in accordance with government policy. If your passport has been ready for a while, this is a good moment to collect it during the extended Saturday hours rather than risk losing it altogether and having to reapply.
How This Fits Into DGIP’s 2026 Reform Push
The Saturday delivery facility isn’t an isolated announcement. It comes after a series of service upgrades DGIP has introduced through 2026, mostly on the direction of Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, aimed at reducing queues and modernizing passport services:
- Doorstep passport delivery service: Launched in partnership with courier company TCS, allowing applicants to receive their passport at their registered home address instead of visiting an office in person.
- Cashless payments: Passport fee payments across offices moved to a cashless system, intended to cut down on queues and reduce reliance on middlemen.
- Faster processing: Standard delivery time for normal passports was brought down from 21 working days to 14 working days as part of the same reform drive.
- E-passport rollout: A move from machine-readable passports (MRPs) to e-passports embedded with a contactless chip storing biometric data, approved by the Interior Minister earlier in 2026.
Seen together, the Saturday counters add a fifth piece to this pattern: making the last step of getting a passport, physically collecting it, easier for people with tight schedules.
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How to Check If Your Passport Is Ready
Before planning a Saturday visit, confirm your passport has actually arrived at the office:
- Visit the official DGIP website, dgip.gov.pk, and use the passport tracking/status section.
- Enter your application tracking or token number to see real-time status.
- Alternatively, contact the DGIP helpline or your Regional Passport Office directly.
Only proceed to a passport office once your status shows the passport is ready for collection, since the Saturday counters are for delivery, not for accepting new applications or resolving processing issues.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this a new way to apply for a passport?
No. This facility is only for collecting passports that have already been processed. New applications still follow the regular process through Regional Passport Offices, Executive Passport Offices, or the online e-Services portal.
How long will the Saturday facility remain available?
DGIP has confirmed it will run for two months from the date of announcement (September 4, 2026). Watch for further updates from DGIP on whether it gets extended.
What happens if I don’t collect my passport in time?
Passports left uncollected for more than six months may be disposed of according to government policy, so it’s best to collect it as soon as it’s confirmed ready.
Where can I confirm this is official?
The announcement was made through DGIP’s official notice and its verified account, @DGIPofficial, and has been confirmed by Pakistan’s Ministry of Interior-linked passport department at dgip.gov.pk.