Reforms Allow Married Pakistani Women
to Obtain Passports with Father’s Name
Pak-Prism Report | Published February 26, 2026
Directorate General of Immigration and Passports has announced a significant reform to enable ‘married women’ to get their passports with their father’s name (if required).
In an official press release the directorate stated that the reform took place in the wake of orders passed by Justice Asim Hafeez of Lahore High Court, Lahore in a case where the Court directed “to complete the consultative process and logistically be ready to make requisite amends in the formatting details of the passports giving option to the women to retain their father’s name on CNIC and passport.”
In compliance with the court orders, the directorate had initiated necessary consultative process with key stakeholders and also taken into consideration other factors.
Federal Minister for Interior Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi and Federal Minister for Law and Justice Azam Nazeer Tarar has provided thorough guidance to incorporate the necessary amendments and revamping the passport application software.
Mustafa Jamal Kazi, Director General Immigration and Passports (DGIP), during the various media talks on the subject matter had ensured that the department is making its serious efforts to incorporate these changes into the passport application. The DG directed the technical team to revamp the entire passport application software with consultation of NADRA authorities to bring the harmony in the identity documentation.
After the court orders, Jamshed M kazi, Country Representative for UN Women Pakistan, approached alongwith his team to DGIP for all out support to effect such changes. The team of UN Women Pakistan was also engaged in the whole process and mediated the consultative process.
On Wednesday – February 25, 2026, a demo of the application was made during a joint briefing attended by senior government officials and representatives from UN Women, reflecting a shared commitment to gender-responsive public service delivery. The measure provides greater choice and dignity for women applying for or renewing passports and removes administrative barriers that have historically limited women’s autonomy in official documentation.
Echoing this, Kazi welcomed the reform and thanked all relevant authorities for their sustained engagement and efforts in making the reform possible, noting, “recognizing women as individuals with independent legal identities is fundamental to achieving substantive gender equality. Administrative reforms such as this remove structural barriers and strengthen women’s equal access to documentation, services, and opportunities. This is an important example of how institutional reforms can translate constitutional guarantees of equality into practical outcomes for women.”