Senate Committee Debates Blue Passport Misuse and New Restrictions
Blue passport misuse became a major topic during a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Interior. Lawmakers discussed concerns related to diplomatic passports, legislation, and ongoing investigations. In addition, officials debated whether parliamentarians should receive blue passports under stricter regulations.
During the meeting, Senator Abdul Qadir argued that senators should also receive blue passports if assembly members continue receiving them. However, Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry warned that misuse could increase if authorities relaxed passport rules further.
Talal Chaudhry said some families had allegedly misused official passports in recent years. He added that allowing older dependents to qualify for blue passports could create additional problems. Therefore, the government has tightened regulations and reduced the overall number of diplomatic and official passports.
Committee Discusses Passport Concerns
The chairman of the committee also shared his opinion during the meeting. He suggested that parliamentarians should keep official passports while civil servants should no longer receive them. Meanwhile, Senator Abdul Qadir claimed that nearly 60,000 blue passports still remain in circulation.
The committee also approved amendments to the Islamabad Real Estate Regulation and Development Bill. Mohsin Aziz proposed the amendments, and committee members approved them unanimously.
After the meeting, Talal Chaudhry spoke to media representatives about recent cases linked to blue passport misuse. He claimed that the son of PTI MNA Iqbal Afridi travelled to Italy on a blue passport and later sought asylum there.
Government Tightens Passport Rules
According to the minister, the matter reached Pakistani authorities through diplomatic channels. He said such incidents damage Pakistan’s international reputation and create trust issues with foreign governments.
Talal Chaudhry also explained that some countries hesitate to sign agreements with Pakistan because of concerns surrounding official passport misuse. As a result, the government has reduced the number of blue passports issued in recent years.
Officials say authorities will now issue blue passports only when necessary. The government believes stricter monitoring will help prevent future misuse and improve Pakistan’s diplomatic credibility abroad.
