The Senate Standing Committee on Interior has approved a bill proposing free official blue passports for former members of Parliament, along with their spouses and dependent children. The proposed legislation aims to extend a benefit already available to retired federal secretaries and their families. The bill will now move forward in the legislative process before becoming law.
The amendment, titled the Members of Parliament (Salaries and Allowances) (Amendment) Act, 2026, was presented by Senator Abdul Qadir during the committee meeting. Committee members approved the proposal, which seeks to grant former lawmakers official blue passports without charge. The measure is intended to revise existing parliamentary benefits.
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Under the proposed law, former members of Parliament would become eligible for free official blue passports after leaving office. The legislation also extends the same benefit to their spouses. In addition, dependent children under the age of 28 would qualify for free blue passports under the proposed amendments.
According to the text of the bill, retired federal secretaries and their families already receive this facility under existing rules. The amendment argues that former parliamentarians should be granted benefits comparable to those provided to retired senior civil servants. Supporters say the proposal seeks to establish parity between the two groups.
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The committee’s approval does not make the proposal law. The bill must complete the remaining parliamentary process, including consideration by both houses of Parliament where required, before it can receive final approval and come into force.