Citizens seeking passport, visa, or other consular services at Pakistan's foreign ministry can now visit later into the evening, as the government launches an extended shift to reduce wait times and improve access. Main Developments The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) has introduced an evening shift at its Islamabad headquarters, expanding service hours from 8am to 8pm, Monday through Friday. The change took effect on July 27, 2026, following a public notice from the Consular Affairs Division. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar announced the initiative on his official X account, framing it as part of the government's commitment to making consular services more accessible, convenient, and efficient. Service tokens for the morning shift are issued from 8am to 12pm Monday to Thursday, and 8am to 11am on Fridays. Read also: Peshawar Hospital Strike Enters Fifth Day as Patients Bear Brunt Background Before this change, consular services at MoFA headquarters operated only during standard daytime hours, often leading to long queues and limited availability for citizens with work or family commitments. The evening shift represents a structural adjustment to address these bottlenecks. For the evening shift, tokens are issued from 3pm to 5:30pm Monday to Thursday, and 3pm to 5pm on Fridays. The move follows broader government efforts to digitize and streamline public services, though it is the first time MoFA has extended physical counter hours. Why It Matters Longer service hours directly benefit citizens who previously struggled to visit during the workday, including those traveling from outside Islamabad. The shift also signals a push toward more citizen-centric governance, potentially reducing complaints about bureaucratic delays. What's Next It remains unclear whether the extended hours will be expanded to other MoFA offices or consulates across Pakistan. The ministry may evaluate demand and staffing needs before considering further adjustments.