The government has signalled stricter controls on the issuance of official blue passports after criticism over a proposed law that would extend the facility to dependent children of former members of parliament.
Minister of State for Interior Tallal Chaudhry said all future applications for blue passports would undergo a rigorous approval process and would be issued only for official purposes, with most passports granted for a limited period.
The remarks come after a Senate committee approved the Members of Parliament Salaries and Allowances (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which proposes allowing dependent children under the age of 28 of former lawmakers to receive official blue passports. If enacted, the law would place former MPs on par with retired Grade-22 civil servants, whose eligible children already qualify for the same benefit.
Speaking to Dawn, Chaudhry said every application would be reviewed by the Interior Secretary and, where necessary, the Interior Minister before a decision is made.
He said the government was working to reduce the overall number of blue passport holders, describing their large number as a hurdle to securing visa-free travel agreements with other countries.
According to Chaudhry, the number of blue passports has already fallen from around 70,000 to fewer than 50,000, and the government aims to reduce it by another 15-20 percent.
He added that Pakistan is in advanced talks with Saudi Arabia on visa exemptions for blue passport holders, while negotiations with Italy and several other countries are also underway.
Commenting on the proposed legislation, Chaudhry said the final decision on whether to support or oppose the bill rests with the political leadership. He added that expanding blue passport eligibility runs counter to the government’s policy of limiting their issuance.
He also suggested that if lawmakers wanted to ensure equal treatment between former parliamentarians and retired Grade-22 officers, a better approach would be to withdraw the same facility from retired bureaucrats rather than extend it further.
Official blue passports are issued to selected constitutional office holders, senior government officials, judges and diplomats for official travel, along with eligible dependents in certain cases. They also provide visa-related benefits under bilateral agreements with several countries.
