Senate body clears blue passport for ex-legislators’ kids

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Senate body clears blue passport for ex-legislators’ kids​

Iftikhar A. Khan
July 11, 2026



Senator Faisal Saleem Rahman chairs a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Interior and Narcotics Control on Friday. — Photo courtesy @SenatePakistan

• Former lawmakers’ spouses, children under 28 to get entitlement if bill becomes law
• FBR resists placing officers on ECL in Rs250m cigarette theft case
• Panel questions FBR probe for blaming junior staff
• Inquiry committee to be set up in Islamabad girl’s alleged forced marriage case
• Senators raise concerns over misuse of official security personnel

ISLAMABAD: A Senate panel on Friday unanimously approved a bill seeking to allow the issuance of blue passports to dependent children under the age of 28 of ex-members of parliament, bringing them in line with the existing entitlement available to dependent children of retired Grade-22 government officers.

The Members of Parliament Salaries and Allowances (Amendment) Bill, 2026, was introduced as a private member’s bill by Senator Abdul Qadir and approved by the Senate Standing Committee on Interior and Narcotics Control during a meeting chaired by Senator Faisal Saleem Rahman.

 

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Minister of State for Interior Muhammad Talal Chaudhry supported the passage of the bill and said the recommendations would be placed before the cabinet for finalisation by the competent authority.

During deliberations, members discussed the implications of the passport policy, including its possible impact on Pakistan’s international passport ranking, before unanimously approving the proposed legislation for the onward legislative process.

The committee also took up the scandal involving the disappearance of cigarettes worth Rs250 million from Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) godowns in Swabi and Mardan, which took a contentious turn after FBR officials told the panel that the names of officers allegedly involved could not be placed on the Exit Control List before completion of legal proceedings.

During the meeting, FBR officials also said investigative agencies were required to seek the department’s permission before initiating inquiries against FBR officers. They argued that ECL placement could only follow due legal process.

 

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