ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has tightened the procedure for issuance of Emergency Travel Documents (ETD) and full verification of identity and travel records has been made essential for issuing these documents, officials said Monday.
In its new guidelines, the Pakistan Bureau of Emigration and Overseas Employment has stipulated that comprehensive verification of national identity card, passport records and travel record is now essential for issuance of ETD.
According to the guidelines, identity verification via the National Database and Registration Authority is mandatory for issuance of ETD, while verification of passport, whether machine readable or non-machine readable shall be done through the immigration and passport database.
If any discrepancy is found in identity or travel records, additional verification shall be done through the Ministry of Interior to verify the nationality of the applicant and eligibility for issuance of ETD.
The guidelines specify that even when identity card verification is complete but passport verification remains incomplete, ETD may be issued, provided that in case of both documents not being verified, applications will be declined.
Officials added that all ETD issuance cases must be reported to the Ministry of Interior and relevant authorities within 24 hours, as part of enhanced monitoring and documentation procedures.
The updated policy is aimed at strengthening identity verification systems and preventing misuse of travel documents, according to officials familiar with the matter.
