ISLAMABAD, May 23 (APP):Director General Immigration and P
assports, Mustafa Jamal Kazi said on Thursday that a committee was formed to revamp p
assport policy, pertaining to the condition of a “married woman’s” p
assport bearing the name of her husband instead of the father.
The committee was tasked to address discrepancies between the policies of the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) and the p
assport issuing authority regarding married women, Kazi told a private news channel.
He said according to current policy a married woman’s p
assport bear her husband’s name instead of her father’s that raised concerns about contradictions between the policies of these two institutions and perceived discrimination against women.
The DG P
assport further explained that while Nadra’s registration is local and used only within Pakistan, a p
assport is an international document and must comply with international agreements.
“Women often face difficulties when their p
assports use their father’s name, especially when traveling with their children without the children’s father.
This can complicate establishing the biological relationship,” said Kazi.
He noted that the p
assport author
ity has faced litigation in recent years due to issues arising from undeclared divorces.
According to the law, citizens must register and declare both marriage and divorce, but problems occur when these
events are not officially documented and complicating custodianship matters, he added.
“It is legal for a married woman to enter her husband’s name along with he
r own in the p
assport,” Kazi said, emphasizing the need for proper registration and documentation to avoid complications.
