Every Pakistani passport — whether collected in Lahore or London — comes from one department: the Directorate General of Immigration & Passports (DGIP). This guide explains what DGIP is, what else it does, and how to deal with it.
Quick answer: Passports in Pakistan are issued by the Directorate General of Immigration & Passports (DGIP), working under the Ministry of Interior. DGIP runs Regional Passport Offices across Pakistan, the online application portal, and the 9988 SMS tracking service.
In this guide
What Is DGIP
The Directorate General of Immigration & Passports is the federal department responsible for issuing Pakistani passports, managing immigration control and handling citizenship documentation. It operates under the Ministry of Interior, headquartered in Islamabad, with Regional Passport Offices in every major city and district coverage nationwide — plus coordination with Pakistani missions abroad for overseas applicants.
What DGIP Does
- Issues machine-readable and biometric e-passports (36/72/100-page variants)
- Runs Regional Passport Offices for applications, biometrics and collection
- Operates the online application portal and overseas MRP system
- Provides tracking (online, SMS 9988) and the 051-111-344-777 helpline
- Manages immigration and border control systems at airports
Contacting DGIP
Website: dgip.gov.pk · Helpline: 051-111-344-777 · SMS tracking: token number to 9988 · Email (complaints): opts@dgip.gov.pk · Online applications (abroad): mrponline@dgip.gov.pk. For case-specific help, your Regional Passport Office is the fastest route. Start tracking: passport tracking hub.
A Brief History of DGIP
Passport issuance in Pakistan began under the British-era passport system at independence; the modern Directorate General of Immigration & Passports took its current shape as the state centralised travel documents. Major milestones: machine-readable passports (2004), ending the era of handwritten documents; the online application system; and biometric e-passports, bringing Pakistan in line with ICAO standards. Each upgrade made the document harder to forge — and the application process more digital.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is DGIP a government department?
Yes — the Directorate General of Immigration & Passports is a federal government department under Pakistan’s Ministry of Interior. Unofficial websites offering ‘passport services’ are not DGIP.
Where are DGIP passport offices?
In every major city — Lahore, Karachi, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Peshawar, Quetta, Multan, Faisalabad and dozens more — plus executive passport offices in some cities. Apply at the office nearest you; collect from the same office unless you chose home delivery.
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