Govt Tightens Blue Passport Rules

The Pakistani government has implemented stricter regulations for obtaining blue passports, reducing the total number from 75,000 to 30,000. State Minister for Interior Talal Chaudhry testified before the Senate Standing Committee on Interior, expressing concern that blue passports were previously granted to ineligible individuals.

He acknowledged that foreign countries frequently inquire about the number of blue passports issued during discussions of visa-free agreements or memorandums of understanding. The minister mentioned a significant number of blue passports were previously issued to government officials.

PML-N Senator Abid Sher Ali recounted instances where officials at the passport office requested a no-objection certificate from the Interior Ministry when he sought blue passports for his family. He questioned whether the rules had changed and accused parliamentarians of becoming subservient to others. Director General Immigration and Passports, Chaudhry Muhammad Ali Randhawa, clarified that passports are issued to parliamentarians upon their application for personal travel documents.

The committee chairman requested the relevant rule requiring Interior Ministry approval be presented to the committee. The discussion also covered tinted vehicle windows, with Senator Naseema Ehsan questioning the government's arrangements for individuals facing security threats if no specific law existed on tinted windows. Chaudhry acknowledged that previous governments had used the Interior Ministry as an arms-licensing branch, reducing prohibited-bore arms licences from 2% to 5% for eligible individuals in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

He noted that the number of arms licences issued annually had decreased by 30%, from around 100,000 to 70,000. Proposal to raise the quota for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan to 10% was under consideration.

Senator Talha Mahmood proposed granting concessions to businessmen and students in visa issuance. The minister explained that during periods of good relations with Afghanistan, up to 100,000 visas were issued annually. He emphasized the sensitivity of the issue and suggested discussing it with the Foreign Ministry. Chaudhry alleged that Afghan nationals had been involved in terrorist attacks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Islamabad, and the murder of businessman Aamir Awan.

Abid Sher Ali suggested issuing short-term visas to businessmen after conducting stringent security checks.

An FIA official informed the committee that the agency does not check passengers' mobile phones at airports, except in cases involving human smuggling. Chaudhry recounted a businessman being denied boarding due to his name being placed on the passport control list, which precluded his international travel. He added that a passenger traveling to Sri Lanka was stopped despite receiving a call from an MNA, who claimed he was visiting the grave of Prophet Adam.

Chaudhry noted that the latest fire safety certificate for PIMS was issued in September 2025, and the Capital Development Authority was directed to present its audit report at the committee's next meeting.