Pakistan has introduced a new digital monitoring platform aimed at improving transparency, efficiency, and security within the country’s passport issuance framework. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi formally inaugurated the Secure Hybrid Intelligence for Knowledge-Based Response Analytics system, known as Shikra, during a visit to the Directorate General of Immigration and Passports. The initiative brings real-time oversight to every stage of passport processing, from application submission to printing and final delivery, both within Pakistan and at overseas missions. Alongside the system’s launch, a dedicated 24/7 monitoring room and a modern call centre have been made operational to ensure continuous supervision and citizen support.
Officials briefed the interior minister on how Shikra integrates multiple digital tools into a single intelligent dashboard designed for live operational tracking and performance evaluation. The platform enables authorities to monitor workflow progress, identify backlogs, assess machinery functionality, and measure staff efficiency across passport offices nationwide. One of the key features includes automated crowd detection at service centres, allowing management to respond quickly to congestion and streamline customer flow. The Network Management System embedded within Shikra also keeps constant checks on technical infrastructure to minimize downtime and processing delays, improving overall service reliability.
As part of the broader digitization effort, the system for issuing Emergency Travel Documents has been fully digitised, reducing manual handling and processing time while enhancing data accuracy. Minister Naqvi praised the Directorate General of Immigration and Passports for adopting technology-driven reforms, noting that Pakistan’s passport operations are now aligned with practices followed by leading countries. He emphasized that citizens would benefit from faster, safer, and internationally standardized services, with each phase of the passport lifecycle now under continuous digital supervision.
The minister also highlighted major upgrades in passport security features, stating that the new measures comply with ICAO international standards to strengthen document integrity and global acceptance. He pointed to the installation of advanced automatic German printing machines that have significantly increased production capacity while removing human intervention from the printing process. This shift has improved consistency, minimized errors, and enhanced the overall trustworthiness of passport issuance. During his tour, Naqvi visited the e-monitoring room, call centre, forensic laboratory, and the modernized production unit, where officials demonstrated how real-time analytics are now central to operational decision-making.
The rollout of Shikra reflects Pakistan’s expanding focus on government digitization and service modernization under the Digital Pakistan vision. By combining real-time data intelligence, automated infrastructure monitoring, and enhanced security standards, the new system aims to transform how passport services are delivered locally and internationally. The integration of technology across processing, performance tracking, and citizen engagement signals a move toward more transparent, efficient, and accountable public service operations, positioning Pakistan’s passport department among digitally advanced government institutions in the region.
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