Projects and records
Timeline of Pakistan's border and passenger data projects
Short answer
- First system
- PISCES, established 2002 1
- Current FIA system
- IBMS, replaced PISCES in 2014 per FIA 2
- Customs profiling
- GTAS, 20 November 2019 3
- e-Passport
- Inaugurated 30 March 2022 5
- Latest plan in this record
- One-window clearance with e-gates, reported 23 April 2026 10
Early systems, 2002 to 2014
The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) says the Personal Identification Secure Comparison and Evaluation System (PISCES) was established in 2002 with partial US Government assistance and completed in June 2010 1. The FIA says its Integrated Border Management System (IBMS) took over the PISCES database for 2003 to 2010 1. The FIA's Annual Administration Report 2025 says IBMS completely replaced the US-funded PISCES project in 2014 2.
Timeline of events
| Date | Event | Responsible body | Stage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 1 | PISCES established with partial US Government assistance 1 | FIA 1 | Historical 1 |
| June 2010 1 | PISCES completed 1 | FIA 1 | Historical 1 |
| 2014 2 | IBMS completely replaced PISCES 2 | FIA 2 | Discontinued, PISCES 2 |
| 20 November 2019 3 | GTAS passenger profiling with API and PNR data operational at seven airports 3 | Pakistan Customs, FBR 3 | Operating 3 |
| 30 March 2022 5 | e-Passport inaugurated in Islamabad 5 | DGI&P, Ministry of Interior 5 | Operating 5 |
| 20 March 2023 4 | National consultation on a proposed goTravel API and PNR system 4 | FBR with UN partners 4 | Proposed 4 |
| 9 August 2023 6 | Interior Minister inaugurates IBMS at FIA headquarters, as reported by ARY News 6 | FIA 6 | Inaugurated, as reported 6 |
| 16 August 2023 5 | e-Passport available at all field offices 5 | DGI&P 5 | Operating 5 |
| 5 September 2023 7 | Decision to install airport e-gates reported 7 | Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority 7 | Proposed 7 |
| 25 June 2025 8 | E-gate design phase completed for three airports 8 | Pakistan Airports Authority 8 | Evaluated 8 |
| 18 September 2025 9 | PAC subcommittee reviews audit objections on passport systems, as reported 9 | Public Accounts Committee 9 | Audit objection reviewed 9 |
| Report for 2025 2 | API-PNR system listed as a proposal, e-gates piloted at selected crossings 2 | FIA 2 | Proposed and pilot 2 |
| 23 April 2026 10 | One-window airport clearance with phased e-gates planned 10 | Ministry of Interior meeting 10 | Proposed 10 |
Two accounts of when IBMS began
The sources give two different pictures of IBMS. The FIA's report for 2025 says IBMS completely replaced PISCES in 2014 2. ARY News reported on 9 August 2023 that the Interior Minister inaugurated the newly established IBMS at FIA headquarters in Islamabad 6. Both dates are shown here as published.
Passenger data projects
The FBR said on 20 November 2019 that Pakistan Customs launched the Global Travelers Assessment System, using API and PNR information, with technical assistance from the World Customs Organization and US Customs and Border Protection 3. On 20 March 2023 the Press Information Department reported a two-day FBR workshop with UN support on establishing an API and PNR system 4.
The FIA's report for 2025 lists a proposal for an API-PNR system for real-time passenger travel analysis 2. It says biometric capture of foreign nationals at entry points is mandatory and that an e-passport data feed is connected to IBMS 2.
Airport e-gates
On 5 September 2023 ARY News reported that the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority decided to install e-gates, starting at Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi, with tenders after board approval 7. On 25 June 2025 Gulf News reported that the Pakistan Airports Authority had completed the design phase and would next prepare technical specifications and tender documents, with the project expected to take 24 months 8.
On 23 April 2026 Profit reported a plan from a meeting chaired by the Interior Minister to introduce biometric e-gates in phases, starting at Islamabad International Airport, linked to FIA databases 10. The report gave no vendor, cost or completion date 10.
Audit record
Business Recorder reported on 18 September 2025 that a Public Accounts Committee subcommittee ordered the return of a machine-readable passport system installed in 2006 at the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi, which had been the subject of an audit objection 9. The subcommittee asked for an inquiry report on the theft of 32,674 passport booklets 9.
Common questions
When did Pakistan start using computerised border control?
The FIA says PISCES was established in 2002 with partial US Government assistance 1.
When did IBMS replace PISCES?
The FIA's report for 2025 says 2014 2. ARY News reported an IBMS inauguration at FIA headquarters on 9 August 2023 6.
When did Pakistan launch e-passports?
The DGI&P says the e-passport was inaugurated on 30 March 2022 and offered at all field offices from 16 August 2023 5.
When will airport e-gates open in Pakistan?
No opening date was published in the sources checked. On 25 June 2025 the project was expected to take 24 months 8.
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Sources
- Federal Investigation Agency: Integrated Border Management System (undated)
- Federal Investigation Agency: Annual Administration Report 2025 (undated)
- Federal Board of Revenue: Pakistan Customs launches passenger profiling system at major airports (20 November 2019)
- Press Information Department: PR No. 134, FBR Hosts Two-Day National Consultation Workshop for Establishing an Advance Passenger Information (API) & Passenger Name Record (PNR) System with the Support of United Nations (20 March 2023)
- Directorate General of Immigration and Passports: Inauguration of E-Passport (30 March 2022)
- ARY News: Rana Sanaullah inaugurates FIA's Integrated Border Management System, by Aamir Javed Butt (9 August 2023)
- ARY News: All airports in Pakistan to get e-gates, by Salah Uddin (5 September 2023)
- Gulf News: Three Pakistani airports to introduce e-gates, by Mariam Khan (25 June 2025)
- Business Recorder, Recorder Report: Ministry asked to repatriate 'idle' passport system from HC (18 September 2025)
- Profit: Pakistan plans one-window airport clearance with e-gates, FIA-linked security system (23 April 2026)
Related
- Proposed, approved or operating: telling Pakistan's border projects apart
How to tell a proposed Pakistani border system from an approved or operating one, with the stage of each project in official records and dates.
- API and PNR passenger data in Pakistan
What Pakistan Customs and the FIA have published on Advance Passenger Information and Passenger Name Record data, with status and dates.
- Biometrics and identity verification at Pakistan's borders
How the FIA, NADRA and the passport directorate verify travellers in Pakistan, what biometrics are captured, and the status of e-gate plans.
- Passenger data retention and audit in Pakistan
What Pakistani official sources publish on how long traveller records are kept, secrecy rules for identity data, and audit findings on passports.
- Pakistan border and travel institutions
Which Pakistani body does what at the border: FIA immigration, visas, passports, NADRA, airports, aviation regulation, customs and emigrant protection.