ISLAMABAD: Revelation has surfaced regarding issuance of 400 blue passports to unauthorised individuals.

According to media reports, these blue passports were issued between 2018 and 2022 to unrelated and unauthorised persons, with 54 of these passports still in use by unauthorized individuals. Blue passport is an official travel document that is issued to government officials and other high-ranking personnel.

Sources from Interior Ministry state that 57,000 blue passports are currently held by authorised officials and personnel. Ministry’s sources also indicated that Passport and Immigration Directorate has issued 1,300 red passports. Meanwhile red passport is issued to dignitaries of state and diplomats.

Previously, Saudi Arabian authorities retrieved more than 12,000 Pakistani passports from Afghan nationals. Riyadh informed Islamabad about this issue, raising concerns regarding effectiveness of national institutions.

Sources indicate that these fraudulent passports were allegedly acquired by Afghan citizens through various passport centers operating in Pakistan. In response, Ministry of Interior has formed high-level committee tasked with investigating matter.