Pakistani married women are allowed to keep their father’s name on passports if they choose, instead of being required to list only their husband’s name by the Pakistani government under the new policy. This reform applies to both new passport applications and renewals, simplifying documentation and strengthening women’s legal identity.
The change comes following directives from the Lahore High Court, which ordered authorities to update passport systems to give women the option to keep their father’s name on their CNIC and passport documents. Federal Interior Minister Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi and Federal Minister for Law and Justice Azam Nazeer Tarar provided guidance for implementing the amendment.
The Directorate General of Immigration and Passports, under the supervision of Director General Mustafa Jamal Kazi, updated its passport application software in coordination with the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA). This ensures married women can maintain continuity in their legal identity without unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles.
Officials and advocacy groups, including UN Women Pakistan, have welcomed the reform as a positive step toward gender-responsive public service delivery and empowerment of women by affirming their independent legal status on official documents.
This change is seen as part of broader efforts to modernize administrative procedures and align Pakistan’s passport policies with principles of choice and equality.
