ISLAMABAD: The Senate passed a bill allowing former parliamentarians to retain their official blue passports even if they leave office before completing their full parliamentary terms.
The proposed amendment to the Passports Act, 1974, covers former members of the National Assembly (NA) and Senate who took the oath of office but did not complete their respective terms. However, the legislation requires approval from the National Assembly before it can become law.
Independent Senator Abdul Qadir introduced the bill, which proposes inserting a new Section 3-A into the existing law. The amendment would allow former lawmakers to retain and use their official passports after leaving office, regardless of whether they completed a full term or served the remainder of another member’s tenure.
Under existing rules, National Assembly members become eligible for blue passports after taking their oath, while senators generally must complete their six-year terms to qualify. The proposed legislation seeks to remove this difference and provide uniform treatment to lawmakers from both houses.
Meanwhile, the Senate withdrew a separate bill seeking to extend blue passports to former lawmakers’ spouses and dependent children under 28 after treasury members opposed the proposal.
During the session, Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry informed lawmakers that the government had cancelled around 30,000 unnecessary or inactive blue passports. Consequently, the number of official blue passports issued in Pakistan had declined from 75,000 to 45,000.
Chaudhry also expressed concerns that issuing excessive numbers of official passports could affect other countries’ willingness to provide visa-free access to Pakistani passport holders.
Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar called for tighter regulation, stressing that official passports should serve government-related purposes.
The Senate’s approval marks an important legislative step, but the proposed amendment will take effect only after completing the remaining parliamentary process.
