ISLAMABAD, October 19, 2026: The Senate on Monday unanimously passed the Passport Amendment Bill 2026, seeking changes to the Passports Act, 1974, following a heated debate over blue passport privileges for government officials, their children and parliamentarians.
The legislation was approved during a session chaired by Deputy Chairman Senate Syedal Khan Nasar after Senator Abdul Qadir introduced the bill and the chair put the motion to a vote.
Lawmakers demanded an immediate end to blue passport privileges for the children of senior government officials, while several senators questioned restrictions on official passports for members of the upper house.
The debate also highlighted concerns over the number of blue passports issued in Pakistan and their implications for visa-free travel arrangements with other countries.
Senators question blue passport privileges for bureaucrats’ children
Moving the bill, Senator Abdul Qadir questioned why children of Grade 21 government officers were entitled to blue passports while senators faced different eligibility requirements.
He argued that senators should receive the same passport privileges available to members of the National Assembly.
“Either abolish blue passports for government employees or extend the same facility to us,” he said.
Federal Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar supported the demand for equal treatment of lawmakers, explaining that members of the National Assembly became eligible for official passports after taking their oath, whereas senators faced restrictions linked to their six-year tenure.
He said Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi supported extending similar passport facilities to senators.
Tarar also maintained that children of retired Grade 21 and 22 government officers should not be entitled to blue passports and called for the existing arrangements to be reviewed.
Talal Chaudhry says 30,000 blue passports withdrawn
Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry told the Senate that the government had already withdrawn 30,000 blue passports as part of efforts to reduce their number.
He clarified that none of the passports withdrawn belonged to parliamentarians.
Chaudhry said Pakistan’s large number of official passport holders created difficulties during negotiations with other countries over visa-free travel.
“When we discuss visa-free entry with another country, they ask about our blue passports. We tell them that Pakistan has 75,000 blue passports,” he said.
The minister explained that the government had already taken steps to reduce the number of such passports.
He also opposed extending passport privileges to former parliamentarians and said the government would support legislation addressing improperly issued passports held by former bureaucrats and their family members.
Chaudhry disclosed that the law minister was preparing a separate bill to withdraw blue passports from the children of former federal secretaries.
Senators protest passport NOC requirements
Several senators expressed strong reservations over what they described as a requirement to obtain a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the Interior Ministry before receiving an official passport.
Senator Abid Sher Ali called the alleged requirement humiliating for elected representatives.
He questioned why senators should need permission from the Interior Ministry to obtain passports to which they were entitled.
Senator Nasir Butt also demanded an end to the requirement and called for the cancellation of blue passports held by retired government officials and their children.
He claimed that approximately 78,000 blue passports existed in Pakistan, including those held by retired officials and their family members.
Senator Faisal Saleem Rahman raised similar objections and argued that the deputy chairman of the Senate should be entitled to a diplomatic passport rather than an official passport.
Responding to the complaints, Talal Chaudhry said no parliamentarian had been asked to obtain an NOC.
He explained that passport applications were subject to high-level verification and that the relevant rules allowed lawmakers to receive passports with a validity of two years.
Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar also maintained that no NOC was required, although he acknowledged receiving complaints about the issue.
Senators seek inquiry into issuance of blue passports
Senator Dilawar Khan called for an investigation into the issuance of 30,000 blue passports, saying officials responsible for granting passports to ineligible individuals should be held accountable.
He argued that if passports had been issued improperly, the relevant authorities should investigate the matter and take action against those responsible.
Senator Aamir Chishti raised concerns over delays in passport processing, claiming that Senator Zarqa’s passport had remained pending for six months.
Abid Sher Ali also alleged that Interior Ministry officials had insisted on an NOC requirement despite objections from lawmakers.
During the proceedings, Deputy Chairman Senate Syedal Khan Nasar questioned why the deputy chairman was not entitled to a diplomatic passport.
The discussion exposed disagreements over passport eligibility, administrative procedures and the privileges extended to public officials and their families.
Senate approves amendment bill unanimously
Following the debate, the Senate unanimously approved the Passport Amendment Bill 2026, amending the Passports Act, 1974.
The proceedings also included calls for separate legislation to withdraw blue passports from the children of retired senior bureaucrats.
The reported debate did not establish that the newly approved bill itself immediately cancelled those passports.
Meanwhile, a separate amendment bill concerning the salaries and allowances of parliamentarians was withdrawn during the session.