LAHORE, Sept 16: The interior ministry has yet to announce the formal launch of the Machine Readable Passport despite the National Database and Registration Authority's claim that it is all set to facilitate passport offices in issuance of new passports.

The ministry had earlier announced that it would launch the project on Sept 15. However, Nadra had installed the machinery at its three swift centres in Lahore, Islamabad and Karachi and tested the online issuance of the computerized passports on Wednesday. The test phase would reportedly be completed in a week.

Official sources told Dawn on Thursday that the final date of issuance of MRP could not be given unless the redesigned passport books were provided to the offices across the country. The ministry had earlier rejected the design of the passport books for MRP, they said.

A Nadra official said it had provided essential training to the passport offices' assistant-directors regarding the issuance of MRP. He said the authority required a go-ahead signal from the interior ministry to launch the project.

He said MRP was designed on unique physical and technical features, which could not be forged or tampered with. An integrated Automated Border Control System (ABCS) would also be placed at the airports, which would help the immigration authorities in controlling human smuggling. He said a database online verification of all the travel documents was also being made possible.