Afghanistan’s Passport Department distributed 2,272,384 passports to citizens during the solar year 1403, generating more than 13 billion afghanis in revenue, Director General Abdul Rahim Hasib announced on Wednesday.

Addressing reporters, Hasib said the department has deposited all passport-related earnings into the Central Bank of Afghanistan. “Last year, we issued over 2.2 million passports and collected billions in fees,” he stated. “These funds support our national finances and reinforce the sustainability of passport services.”

Hasib highlighted a key administrative improvement: integration of the department’s database with the new electronic ID (Tazkira) system managed by the National Statistics Authority. This linkage allows officials to verify personal details—such as names and birthdates—directly from official records, virtually eliminating errors on printed passports.

“Thanks to the electronic ID integration, applicants no longer face name or date-of-birth discrepancies in their passports,” Hasib explained. “Data flows seamlessly from the central registry to our issuance platform.”

Several citizens who visited the department praised the streamlined process. “Correcting my name spelling used to take weeks,” said one applicant. “Now it’s fixed in a day, and I received my passport without delay.”

Despite these enhancements, demand for new passports has declined compared with previous years, reflecting shifting travel patterns amid evolving economic and security conditions. The Passport Department indicated it will continue refining its services, aiming for faster turnaround times and expanded online application options in the coming year. (ILKHA)