A recent controversy has emerged concerning the naming rights of married women on Pakistani passports, sparking a nationwide debate on institutional discrimination and the consistency of identification practices.
Mustafa Jamal Kazi, Director General of Immigration and Passports, addressed the issue, noting a policy inconsistency regarding the inclusion of names on married women’s passports. Currently, women are required to choose between their husband’s or father’s name, a practice that differs from the National Database and Registration Authority’s (NADRA) approach.
Kazi confirmed that it is permissible for a married woman to include her husband’s name in her passport and that divorced women have the option to mention an ex-husband’s name. However, this flexibility does not resolve the broader issue of women’s right to choose their preferred name for identification purposes.
In response to the controversy, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has formed a committee headed by Interior Secretary Khurram Ali Agha to address these concerns. The committee is tasked with reviewing passport policies for women and devising solutions that consider their convenience and legal rights. The goal is to promptly resolve the matter in accordance with existing rules and regulations, ensuring fair and equitable treatment for all women.
