Govt forms committee to revise passport policy for married, divorced women

ISLAMABAD: Director General Immigration and Passports Mustafa Jamal Kazi said the government is considering the revision in policies of the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) and passport issuing authority regarding married women.

Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi took notice of the issue of entering the name of the father or husband of a married woman on the passport and formed a committee to resolve the matter.

Federal Interior Minister Mohsin appointed Federal Secretary Interior Khurram Ali Agha as head of the committee.

Naqvi has directed the committee to review all the issues pertaining to the passport for women and devise a workable solution to address the matter.

Recommendations should be made keeping in mind the convenience and ease of married women, Naqvi ordered, adding that the ministry is working towards finding an immediate solution, as per the rules and regulations.

READ MORE: Federal govt once again increases Passport Fee in Pakistan; Check new fee here

The matter pertains to the condition of a “married woman’s” passport bearing the name of her husband instead of the father — a move that has raised questions regarding the contradictions between the policies of two government institutions that possess data of citizens across the country as well as the policy’s discrimination towards women.

During a talk with a private TV channel, a lawyer Khadija Bukhari said that this issue could cause inconvenience and distress for women who want to retain their father’s name on their identification documents, regardless of whether they remain married or divorced.