The foreign missions in Pakistan have shown acceptability of machine readable passports (MRP), which is being launched from 15 of this month and assured that they would ease visa restrictions on Pakistani nationals due to transparency of the document.
Informed sources told Business Recorder that the matter was informally discussed with the high ups of the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) during their frequent visits to authority's headquarter last month.
They (foreign missions) said that we would be able to facilitate a large number of visa seekers with the introduction of state of the art MRP, which will help to easily verify the identification of any applicant who intends to visit any country, sources added.
Diplomats also expressed satisfaction over the transparency of machine-readable passports.
Nadra is all set to launch machine-readable passport project by September 15, which would help government to unearth people involved in the business issuing passports through fraudulent means.
However, fixation of charging for normal and urgent passport fee has so far not been okayed by the Interior Ministry as existing passport cell will itself determine the fee structure for MRP, official disclosed. Nadra will also get the actual cost out of the fee paid by the applicant.
It was also learnt Directorate of Passports and Immigration is working on a proposed procedure to determine the maximum duration of the MRP delivery. It might be possible that directorate would be able to issue MRP on very next day depends upon the eligibility of the passport seeker.
Under the new system the concerned Assistant Director of passports like previous prevailing procedure will scrutinise the documents of MRP seeker through his/her CNIC number by pressing a computer key.
Once the officer okayed the applicant eligibility, MRP will start automatic production in Islamabad Nadra headquarter from where the new passports will be delivered either to applicant's home address or concerned offices through courier service.
The name, photograph, signature etc of the applicant will be verified directly from the Computerised National Identity Card Database for making the passport.
Duration and fee for urgent and ordinary passport will be different.
Nadra has developed the state of the art technology after having studied such projects already in implementation in different countries, which is unique in features as compared to projects of this category world over and provides complete identification and recognition solutions.
With issuance of machine readable passport Pakistan will be become the first country in the world to issue a passport using both the Automatic Finger Identification and Facial Recognition system, senior official said.
Government is also considering changing design and colour of the machine-readable passport, sources said adding 'blue' colour is likely to replace old 'green; one.
There is a recommended change in the green colour for the normal passport and incorporation of state of the art physical and technical security features.
The foolproof security features like installation of a computerised 'chip' will be the unique content of MRP for making it user friendly to the international immigration officers. The MRP project ensures minimum special equipment and easily recognisable authentication procedures.
For biometric identification an applicant's two thumb and two fingers are scanned along with digital photograph taken and controlled. Here disable people would be given special options.
Data entry involves entry of data in English if not already available. In case of a Pakistani National (passport) thumb impression and digital photo would be taken and match with passport database. In case of a foreign national (visa) facial match with visa database would be done.
Nadra has already completed its Research and Development for inserting a data chip in the passport. This chip can be checked through Automated Border Control System (prepared by Nadra) to be installed at all entry & exit points of the country.
Authority has conducted all tests and exercises to ensure that system fully complies with the features it has programmed on. Hundred percent results were achieved and Nadra is all set to launch this project formally next month.
Experts said that it would help the country to check the flourishing menace of human smuggling and will also help country procure contracts for skilled and semi-skilled workforce from different countries, which otherwise are denied because of sending of Pakistani immigrants illegally.
MRP project will also save people from monetary losses and humiliation while being exploited at hands of illegal manpower agents.
MRP applications would be processed in all 28 cities where passport offices already exist. However in case of any problem Nadra has the substitute of NSRCs across the country.
Taking advantage of authenticity and promptness in verification of records, passport offices are fast complying with the online Verification System (VERISYS) of National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) by replacing the time consuming manual process of verification.
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