Senate panel approves lifetime Blue passports for sitting, retired senators

The Senate Standing Committee on Interior and Narcotics Control on Wednesday unanimously approved a bill seeking the provision of official Blue passports to sitting and retired senators for life.

The committee met under the chairmanship of Senator Faisal Saleem Rehman to review legislative proposals and matters related to the country’s law and order situation.

During the discussion on the proposed legislation, Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry informed the committee that the Interior Ministry had no objection to extending lifetime official passport facilities to serving and former senators.

However, the minister expressed reservations over extending the facility to adult children up to the age of 28, citing reports of misuse.

Committee members also raised concerns regarding issuance of official Blue passports to adult children of senior civil servants.

The committee directed the ministry to submit a detailed record of active Blue passports issued under the facility.

Members further stressed the need for strict action against misuse of official passports before unanimously approving the bill.