Islamabad, Pakistan: The Overseas Pakistani Global Foundation (OPGF) formally urged the Ministry of Interior to temporarily relax passport issuance requirements for undocumented Pakistanis in Spain, citing an urgent need to facilitate their inclusion under a newly enacted Spanish legalization policy.
In a letter addressed to Interior Minister Mohsin Raza Naqvi, the foundation described the development as a “historic opportunity” for an estimated 25,000 to 30,000 Pakistanis to regularize their status after more than two decades.
According to OPGF, the government of Spain has introduced a new legalization framework for undocumented residents, potentially enabling thousands of Pakistanis to obtain legal residency, secure formal employment, and integrate fully into Spanish society.
However, the organization warned that procedural hurdles linked to Pakistan’s passport issuance policy could prevent many from benefiting within the limited time window provided under Spanish law.
Under current procedures, Pakistani nationals applying for a passport are required to present a local Spanish police report.
OPGF stated that this requirement stems from Pakistan’s internal regulations rather than Spanish legal obligations and has created severe logistical challenges.
Long queues have reportedly formed outside police stations across Spain, overwhelming local authorities and leaving many applicants unable to secure the required documentation in time.
The foundation has requested that the government of Pakistan temporarily waive the police-report requirement for undocumented Pakistanis in Spain seeking passports solely for the purpose of availing the legalization policy.
It argued that such a measure would enable tens of thousands of individuals to obtain valid identification and avoid exclusion from the regularization process.
The letter was also copied to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir, Director General of Immigration and Passports Mustafa Jamal Kazi, and Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis Chaudhry Salik Hussain.
OPGF emphasized that easing the requirement would have wide-ranging benefits, including enabling legal status for thousands of workers, potentially increasing remittances to Pakistan, strengthening household incomes, and contributing positively to the national economy.
The organization further noted that such a facilitative step would build goodwill among overseas Pakistanis, reinforce the state’s image as a protector of its diaspora, counter negative perceptions through proactive governance, and ease administrative pressure on Spanish authorities.
The appeal was jointly signed by Akhtar Zahir Ahmad (Chairman), Farhan Maher (Member, Board of Governors), Malik Suleman (Chief Organizer), Ali Rashid Butt (Member, Board of Governors), Sheikh Shakeel (Vice Chairman), Muhammad Suleman Gondal (Member, Board of Governors), Sheraz Khan (Legal Advisor), Sohail Maqsood Warrich (Member, Board of Governors), Chaudhry Zulfigar Ali (Member, Board of Governors – United Kingdom), as well as community leaders and executive members Muhammad Arsalan Mehar, Khawaja Bilal Safdar, Sajad Butt, Muzamil Rashid Warrich, Jameel Chatha, and Anas Ijaz.
