Pakistan’s Senate has approved a bill that allows former senators and members of the National Assembly to keep blue passports for life. Senator Abdul Qadir presented the bill, and the Senate passed it unanimously. The lifetime blue passport bill allows former parliamentarians to keep and use their blue passports, even if they did not complete their term. The bill also proposes blue passports for their children.
During the debate, Senator Nasir Butt called for stricter rules on blue passports. He suggested cancelling the passports of retired secretaries and judges. Senator Abdul Qadir asked why the children of parliamentarians should not get blue passports. He pointed out that the children of Grade 22 government officers can also receive them.
Minister of State for Interior Senator Talal Chaudhry said the government opposed giving blue passports to the children of parliamentarians. He also said the government would introduce a bill to cancel blue passports issued to the children of former secretaries. He warned that the number of blue and red passports could affect Pakistan’s green passport ranking.
Talal Chaudhry explained that other countries consider the number of blue passports when Pakistan seeks visa-free travel for its citizens. He said Pakistan has around 75,000 blue passports. This large number may make such talks more difficult. The government wants to improve Pakistan’s passport ranking and make travel easier for its citizens.
Federal Law Minister Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar also opposed giving blue passports to the children of parliamentarians. He said blue passports are meant for official use. He added that the government may also review passports given to the children of retired government officers. He believes children should build their own careers. He also said a blue passport does not increase a person’s respect. The lifetime blue passport bill has started a debate about who should receive this special travel document.
