Pakistan Moves to Develop E-Passport Security Chips Locally
The Directorate General of Immigration and Passports has agreed to work with NUST and PSPC on domestic production of passport chips, reducing reliance on imported technology and strengthening e-passport security.
Pakistan's Directorate General of Immigration and Passports has decided to pursue the local manufacturing of electronic passport chips, a step aimed at tightening security features and cutting the country's dependence on foreign technology, according to a report by 24NewsHD TV.
The decision emerged from a virtual meeting chaired by the Director General of Immigration and Passports with officials from the Pakistan Security Printing Corporation (PSPC). Participants reviewed the full passport production chain, covering printing, supply chain management and the timely availability of passport booklets.
Discussions also focused on enhancing the security elements of e-passports and aligning current standards with international requirements. The meeting examined improvements to polycarbonate data card production to ensure higher quality and compliance with global benchmarks.
The DG directed PSPC officials to coordinate with a team from the National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST) to take concrete steps toward developing passport chips locally and safeguarding their security. Officials described the plan as consistent with the government's push for digital transformation and stronger domestic technological capability.
Local chip production, if realized, could reduce exposure to imported components and supply chain disruptions while giving authorities more control over the integrity of travel documents. Details on timelines, funding or testing arrangements were not disclosed in the meeting's reporting.
