Minister for Law and Justice Azam Nazeer Tarar called for the abolition of the requirement that Senate members must complete six years of service to receive official passports. Tarar addressed the Senate while discussing a bill introduced by Senator Abdul Qadir concerning blue passports.
Current regulations allow members of the National Assembly to obtain official passports immediately after taking their oath. In contrast, senators must finish their full six-year term to qualify for the same travel documents.
A senator who resigns shortly before the end of their term could consequently lose their eligibility for the passport. The Minister argued that the distinction between the two houses is unnecessary because former parliamentarians frequently engage in diplomatic activities and attend international events, such as Inter-Parliamentary Union meetings.
Official passports are intended to facilitate government duties rather than serve as a personal privilege. Tarar stated that the number of eligible individuals must be properly regulated.
The government plans to review and fix gaps in rules that allow children of retired grade 21 and 22 officers to hold official passports until they reach 28 years of age. There may be a political consensus on extending the official passport facility to the dependent children of current and former parliamentarians up to the age of 28.
