DPM orders inquiry into alleged irregularities in MoFA’s apostille, attestation system

• Petroleum Secretary Hamed Yaqoob to head inquiry committee.
• Committee to examine courier services’ role: notification.
• Inquiry committee ordered to submit findings within two weeks.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar has taken notice of a Truth Wirereport regarding irregularities in the apostille and document attestation system at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

DPM Dar has constituted a three-member inquiry committee to investigate alleged irregularities in the system, which is widely used by citizens for educational, legal and immigration purposes in Pakistan and abroad.

According to a notification issued by DPM’s Office on Friday, Secretary Petroleum Hamed Yaqoob Sheikh will act as convener of the committee, while Secretary Law Raja Naeem Akbar and Special Secretary Finance Qumar Sarwar Abbasi will serve as its members.

The committee has been tasked with identifying any instances of misuse or irregularities in the apostille and document attestation system and reviewing the role of courier services involved in the process.

It will also determine whether any foreign ministry officials were involved in the alleged irregularities and recommend reforms to strengthen the system and prevent similar lapses in the future.

The committee has been directed to submit its findings and recommendations within two weeks, according to the notification.

Meanwhile, the additional secretary (admin) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been directed to provide full cooperation to the committee and ensure access to all relevant records and material required for the inquiry.

What is the apostille system?

Pakistan acceded to the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention in 2023, with the foreign office saying the move would facilitate international acceptance of Pakistani public documents.

An apostille certifies the signature of a public official on a document, allowing it to be presented directly to authorities in another member country without further attestation.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs formally launched Pakistan’s apostille system on August 21, 2024, with DPM Dar presiding over the ceremony.

The system allows documents to be submitted through five notified courier companies, while the foreign ministry and its liaison offices in Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, Quetta and Gujrat process apostille applications.