Global Suspension of Pakistan Passport Services Leaves Expats Stranded

May 4, 2026

66 min

May 4, 2026 10:31

Pakistan passport services halted globally, expats left in limbo

## Technical Glitch Halts Services

Since April 29, passport services at Pakistani missions worldwide have been suspended due to a technical issue at the Directorate General of Immigration and Passports (DGI & P) headquarters in Islamabad. This disruption has affected embassies and consulates in the Gulf region and beyond, including the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia.

## Impact on Overseas Pakistanis

The suspension has created significant challenges for overseas Pakistanis, particularly those in the Gulf, who rely on timely passport renewals for employment, visa processing, and travel. Families with newborns are especially affected, as they cannot apply for passports online and require in-person visits for initial issuance.

## Awaiting Resolution

In the UAE, missions in Abu Dhabi and Dubai have advised nationals to avoid visiting consular offices for passport services during the outage. An official from the Consulate General of Pakistan in Dubai mentioned that services were expected to resume on May 4, but no formal confirmation has been provided. Embassy officials are still awaiting instructions from Islamabad.

## Call for Government Intervention

With no clear timeline for service restoration, affected Pakistanis have urged Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to prioritize resolving the issue. Meanwhile, authorities have encouraged applicants to use the online passport system where possible, although this option is not available for everyone.

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