Pakistan is planning to secure visa-free entry arrangements with 25 countries within the next six months, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has announced. The move is part of the government’s efforts to improve the value and international standing of the Pakistani passport.

Naqvi shared the update while briefing the National Assembly Standing Committee on Interior on Thursday. The meeting was chaired by MNA Raja Khurram Shahzad Nawaz.

The minister said the value of the green passport was improving and expressed confidence that its international rating would advance further over the next six months.

He added that visa-exemption agreements, international commitments and the planned transition to e-passports required a collective decision by parliament.

Visa-Free Arrangements With Saudi Arabia and UAE

According to Naqvi, Pakistan has already made visa-free entry arrangements with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. A similar agreement with Qatar is also expected soon.

The government is now working to expand these arrangements to more countries. The target is to finalize agreements with 25 countries within six months.

However, the minister indicated that the number of official blue passports issued by Pakistan was affecting negotiations with other countries.

Government Plans to Reduce Blue Passports

Naqvi told the committee that Pakistan currently has around 70,000 blue passports. He said some countries had indicated that they could terminate visa-exemption agreements if Pakistan did not reduce this number to 25,000.

He explained that many countries first ask about the total number of blue passports issued by a country before considering visa-free arrangements.

According to the minister, 22,000 blue passports have already been cancelled. The government has also imposed a ban on issuing new blue passports as part of its efforts to bring the total number down.

Naqvi said international partners were urging Pakistan to reduce the number to 25,000 to secure better travel facilities for its citizens.

He also informed the committee that blue passports are now being issued to parliamentarians for a period of three years.

Talal Chaudhry Says Blue Passports Affect Visa Agreements

State Minister for Interior Talal Chaudhry also addressed the committee on the issue. He said excessive issuance of blue passports was affecting Pakistan’s efforts to secure visa-free arrangements with other countries.

Chaudhry responded to a question from lawmaker Agha Rafiullah, who asked whether the number of blue passports really had an impact on international agreements.

The state minister said the number did affect negotiations and agreements with other countries.

However, Rafiullah disagreed with the explanation. He offered to surrender his own passport and asked the government to identify the legal provisions that govern the issuance of blue passports.

He argued that elected representatives serve the public and said the government’s explanation was not logical.

Committee Seeks Details of Cancelled Passports

During the meeting, committee members asked the government to provide a detailed breakdown of the 30,000 passports reportedly reduced from the overall number.

Talal Chaudhry assured the members that the requested information would be shared with the committee.

The discussion highlighted the government’s efforts to control the issuance of official passports while pursuing better international travel arrangements for Pakistani citizens.

What This Means for Pakistani Passport Holders

If the planned agreements are finalized, Pakistani citizens could gain easier access to more international destinations. Visa-free arrangements can reduce travel costs, paperwork and the time required to obtain travel permission.

However, the announcement does not mean that Pakistanis can immediately travel to 25 additional countries without visas. The agreements still need to be finalized, and the government has not announced the complete list of countries covered by the proposed arrangements.

For now, the six-month target represents the government’s plan to improve passport access and expand travel opportunities for Pakistanis.

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