Pakistan launches ‘SHIKRA’ for real-time monitoring of passport applications

2026-01-26 - 05:49

ISLAMABAD – Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Monday inaugurated the newly-developed “SHIKRA” for real-time monitoring of passport applications. The minister visited the Directorate General of Immigration and Passports where he was also briefed on SHIKRA (Secure Hybrid Intelligence for Knowledge-Based Response Analytics) that is designed for modernizing passport application tracking, printing, and overall monitoring. The new system enables real-time monitoring of passport requests and deliveries. During the visit, Naqvi was briefed on the system’s features, including a 24/7 monitoring room and an active call center, aimed at improving service efficiency and accessibility. Naqvi praised the efforts of the directorate acknowledging the role of modern technology in streamlining operations. “With this new system, Pakistan’s passport services are now aligned with international standards, ensuring fast, secure, and globally competitive services for citizens,” Naqvi stated. Emergency Travel Document Goes Digital Additionally, emergency travel document system has been digitized, further improving the speed of critical services. The passport printing process has been automated using German machinery, eliminating human intervention and increasing operational efficiency. The system also features an integrated digital dashboard for monitoring daily operations and performance evaluations, as well as the ability to automatically detect congestion at passport offices. Furthermore, a network management system will track machinery status and backlogs to ensure smoother workflows. Naqvi expressed confidence that these reforms would lead to further improvements in service delivery while maintaining high-security standards in line with ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) regulations.