Federal Cabinet Approves New Visa Clearance System, AI-Based Screening to Begin in January

The federal cabinet has approved a new visa clearance system as part of priority reforms in Pakistan’s visa and travel clearance framework. The decision aims to modernize visa processing and strengthen travel security amid rising concerns over illegal migration, fake travel documents, and stricter entry regulations imposed by several countries.
According to the report, the new system is designed to make the visa process more transparent, secure, and efficient, particularly for Pakistani citizens traveling abroad. Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi directed authorities to tighten scrutiny of travel documents and announced that an artificial intelligence-based screening system will be introduced from January to detect fake visas in a timely manner and prevent illegal travel before departure.
Officials said the government’s measures are intended to take effective action against fraudulent agent networks and safeguard Pakistan’s international image. The move comes as many countries have intensified background checks, leading to a growing number of rejected applications from suspected or non-compliant travelers.
The cabinet was informed that these reforms are a continuation of earlier initiatives to modernize the visa regime. Within six months of launching the online visa-on-arrival platform, more than 142,000 visa applications were successfully processed, easing procedures for tourism and business travel and improving overall efficiency.
During the meeting, the cabinet also approved several other policy decisions. These included an extension of the Off-Grid Power Plants Levy Act 2025, allowing third parties to supply gas to captive power plants to encourage private-sector energy generation, and in-principle approval of amendments to the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority Ordinance 2002 to modernize tendering and enhance transparency. The cabinet further approved the repeal of the National University of Security Sciences Islamabad Act 2025, decided to form a committee to improve consultation on private members’ bills in the National Assembly, approved the National Cannabis Control and Regulatory Policy 2025 to promote plant-based use in pharmaceutical and textile sectors, and ratified decisions taken by the Cabinet Committee on Legislative Affairs during October and November.