ISLAMABAD – The federal government has introduced major reforms in passport issuance, allowing women to keep their father’s name on their passports.
The Immigration and Passports Authority said married women will now have the option to keep their father’s name on their passport if they choose to do so.
These reforms followed the decision of Justice Asim Hafeez of the Lahore High Court in the case (WP No. 65154/2023 Ms. Mehr Bano Langrial v. Pakistan Federation).
The court directed that women be given the right to have their father’s name on both their national identity cards and passports.
The decision also deals with a similar petition (WP No. 58842/2023) filed by advocate Khadija Yasmeen Bhatti and others.
To implement these changes, the Directorate General of Immigration and Passports has begun consultations with relevant authorities. Following the court’s order, Jamshed M. Qazi, UN Women Country Representative for Pakistan, met with the DGIP with his team and offered assistance in ensuring successful implementation of these reforms.
Officials emphasized that legal identity and access to official documents are fundamental to women’s full participation in economic, social and civic life and that this reform is an important step towards gender equality in Pakistan.
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