E-PASSPORT– AN EASE TO TECHNOLOGY IN PAKISTAN

E-passport, electronic passport or biometric passport is the international travel document with identity details such as passport number, name, surname, nationality, and date of birth, as well as an electronic microprocessor chip containing data such as fingerprints, photos, and signatures. Biometric passports are scanned through special devices. E-passports, together with the codes developed, are much more effective, against passport fraud, than traditional passports. E-passports, a new biometric passport containing all the information available in traditional passports, are designed to lighten the workload at passport checkpoints. With E-passports, the control system powered by the labour force is aimed to become an autonomous system in the future. 

Pakistan’s NADRA department has launched an application for E-Passport which is rolled out through the passport office. It has made an ease to people and technology. If we look back in technology, the passports were handwritten, later a machine readable passport was formed which was scanned through the machine. In 2009, the chip based E-passport application was made but due to some issues it couldn't be launched in time. In 2021, it was launched to give easy access to Pakistanis. Pakistan also provided the E-passport services to Kenya to empower it. There is one to one authentication through this passport. All the information of a person is stored in the chip of E-passport. So, it has made authentication very easy and time saving. The immigration officer doesn't need to match the data from the database. He can directly confirm all the details with the help of an E-passport. The identity of any person will be checked in just a few seconds. Further, if overseas Pakistanis can come through the E-gate with the help of E-passport. They won't need to visit the immigration officer. The NADRA department is also operating its functions online now. Now people have access to its portal and register them to get any services related to identity cards or any other service. The biometric machines are replaced with the Algorithm. And now people can get their fingerprints scanned by using their mobile phone camera and send it for biometric verification with the help of an online portal. The identity cards can be renewed, and family registration certificates and any amendments in any information can be made through an online portal. This is the ease of using this technology. The overseas Pakistanis can also process their power of attorney online. They don’t need to go to the embassy. The testing of E-passport was first made in the UK and Canada. The passport can be renewed online through NADRA website.