Pakistani Passport Requirements Update: Married Woman Allowed to Retain Father’s Name

Pakistan permits married women to keep father name on passports as ordered by Lahore High Court. The policy is supported by Mohsin Naqvi and Azam Nazeer Tarar, who change the new and renewed passport systems. It recognizes the independent legal status of women and eliminates the obstacles to rights – another major victory of the gender equality in Pakistan.

The Government of Pakistan has updated passport rules. Women, including married women, can now retain their father’s name on their passports if they choose. This applies to new applications and renewals.

Lahore High Court directed the change. Justice Asif Hafeez ordered the government to fix policy and technical issues. The Directorate General of Immigration and Passports issued a notification after consultations. They updated the software with NADRA coordination.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar instructed the rollout. Director General Passports Mustafa Jamal Qazi supervised the update.

UN Women Pakistan welcomed the step. They called it gender-responsive service delivery and a joint effort with the government.

Previously, passport rules often required women to use their husband’s name. This conflicted with NADRA’s CNIC policy, which already allowed father’s name retention. The mismatch caused problems in travel, legal matters, and services.

This policy shift resolves those issues. Women gain more choice over their legal identity on official documents.

Rida Shahid

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