Investigation launched into 400 unauthorized blue passports issued in Pakistan between 2018 and 2022

A revelation has emerged about the issuance of 400 blue passports to unauthorized people.

According to media reports, these blue passports were issued between 2018 and 2022 to unrelated and unauthorized individuals, with 54 of these passports still in use by unauthorized individuals.

A blue passport is an official travel document issued to government officials and other high-ranking personnel.

Home Office sources claim that there are currently 57,000 blue passports held by authorized officials and staff. Ministry sources also indicated that the Directorate of Passports and Immigration has issued 1,300 red passports.

Meanwhile, a red passport is issued to state dignitaries and diplomats.

Earlier, Saudi Arabian authorities recovered more than 12,000 Pakistani passports from Afghan nationals. Riyadh informed Islamabad on this issue, and raised concerns about the effectiveness of national institutions.

Sources indicate that these fraudulent passports were allegedly procured by Afghan nationals through various passport centers operating in Pakistan.

In response, the Ministry of the Interior has formed a high-level commission to investigate the matter.

This committee, which includes representatives from the Ministry of the Interior, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and other sensitive agencies, will work to identify those involved in the issuance of these fake passports and draw up a list of individuals involved .

Legal action will be initiated against those responsible, in accordance with the country’s legislation.

New measures for the CNIC, issuance of passports

Information Minister Attaullah Tarar assured the National Assembly that robust data verification protocols are in place to stop the issuance of Computerized National Identity Cards (CNICs) and passports to non-Pakistanis.

His remarks addressed the concerns of Members of the National Assembly (MNA) Sehar Kamran and Noor Alam Khan over the alleged illegal distribution of CNICs and passports to Afghan citizens.

Attaullah Tarar noted that new scanning technologies and advanced machines have been introduced in passport offices across the country to strengthen the verification process.

He detailed that Afghan applicants face a rigorous three-tiered scrutiny for passport applications. This process involves mandatory accreditation by a published officer, re-verification by the accrediting authority and final confirmation of the data using the Family Registration Certificate (FRC) database maintained by the authority National Data and Registration Authority (NADRA).