The Senate of Pakistan has called on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to further improve the quality of apostille services. This was reported by HUM English.
How documents are apostilled in Pakistan
As previously reported by Schmidt & Schmidt, the 1961 Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation of Foreign Public Documents (the Apostille Convention) officially entered into force for the Islamic Republic of Pakistan on 9 March 2023.
Islamabad announced its intention to accede to the Apostille Convention in 2022, and on 27 February 2023 the Government of Pakistan approved the relevant decision.
Immediately after the Convention entered into force for Pakistan, the authorities began officially accepting foreign documents legalized by means of an apostille. The headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was designated as the competent authority responsible for issuing apostilles in Pakistan.
The authorities of eight European states — Greece, Denmark, the Netherlands, Finland, Austria, Poland, the Czech Republic, and Germany — raised objections to Pakistan’s accession to the Convention and therefore do not accept Pakistani apostilles. Accordingly, reciprocal measures apply to these countries from the side of the official authorities in Islamabad.
In addition, Pakistan does not accept apostilles issued by India due to existing territorial disputes between the two countries. As a result, the Convention does not operate between them.
Soon after the Convention entered into force, widespread corruption schemes emerged around the apostille procedure. Intermediaries would secure spots in the queues for document legalization, and Pakistani citizens had to pay them significant amounts to have their documents certified for use abroad.
In an effort to “combat the agency mafia,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan introduced fundamental changes to the apostille procedure. The prior appointment system was abolished, and authority to certify documents was transferred to legalization centers located in Islamabad, Lahore, and Karachi.
Subsequently, several additional stages of the apostille reform were implemented. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan officially designated five courier companies authorized to deliver documents for apostille processing. The list includes Gerry's International, Leopards Courier Service, Excellent Courier Services, M&P Express Logistics, and TCS.
Applicants can choose options such as collecting documents at the office or door-to-door delivery. In coordination with the companies, authorities developed standardized pricing tables based on the type of service and the delivery destination.
Since 2024, Pakistan has been implementing digital technologies in the apostille procedure.
How the Senate Proposes to Improve Apostille Services in Pakistan
In Islamabad, a session of the Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs was held to discuss apostille matters, chaired by Senator Aga Shahzaib Durrani. The meeting was attended by Senators Rana Mahmood ul Hassan, Rubina Qaim Khani, and Amir Waliuddin Chishti.
Representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported to the committee members. They explained the specifics of applying the Apostille Convention and noted that thousands of documents are apostilled annually. Demand for this service is growing. To simplify the legalization process for citizens, the ministry is establishing regional offices across the country and partnering with courier companies.
During the session, committee members thanked the MFA leadership for introducing the new document delivery procedure, but also made several requests to the ministry.
The committee chair emphasized the need to prioritize apostille services through courier companies. He also urged the ministry to ensure the quality of services provided by these contractors.
Additionally, he instructed the ministry to consider a system to encourage citizens to work as couriers for delivering documents for apostille processing. In his view, this support should primarily target students.
The committee also inquired with MFA representatives about which documents Pakistani citizens most frequently apostille. It turned out that 26% of all requests relate to the legalization of educational documents. Other commonly apostilled documents include those issued by NADRA (National Database & Registration Authority), courts, and various administrative offices.
The Senate committee demanded that the MFA establish document submission points for apostille services in Southern Punjab, as this region has many potential applicants and delivery conditions are inconvenient.
The committee chair instructed that the document legalization process in Pakistan be fully digitized and human involvement minimized. In his view, this will enhance transparency in service provision and prevent any violations.
Additionally, the participants stated that the digital systems used for legalization should be integrated with the databases of NADRA and other government agencies. This would improve the efficiency of document authenticity verification. Senators also insist on the prompt introduction of artificial intelligence technologies in the apostille process.
Given the specificity of these recommendations, Pakistan can expect a new phase of reform in the legalization of documents for international use.
What is an apostille?
What is an apostille? Why do I need an apostille? How do I get an apostille? - Our video will explain everything you need to know about the apostille. If you have a document that needs to be certified with an apostille for use abroad, Schmidt and Schmidt will assist you! We provide apostille services in more than 100 countries worldwide.
