Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi told the National Assembly Standing Committee on Interior on Thursday that visa-free entry deals with 25 countries are due to be wrapped up within six months.
"The value of the green passport is currently improving, and its rating will advance further over the next six months," he said while briefing the committee chaired by MNA Raja Khurram Shahzad Nawaz.
Naqvi explained that parliament must reach a collective decision because of ongoing visa-exemption talks, international obligations and the upcoming shift to e-passports.
Visa-free arrangements have already been secured with Saudi Arabia and the UAE, and a similar agreement with Qatar is expected shortly.
He noted that the total count of blue passports stands at 70,000, but some nations have warned they may drop visa-exemption if the figure is not cut to 25,000.
"Visa-free entry cannot be secured for 70,000 blue passports," Naqvi said, adding that most countries first inquire about the total number of blue passports issued before considering such deals.
According to Naqvi, 22,000 blue passports have been cancelled and a ban placed on new issuance, with global pressure urging Pakistan to lower the number to 25,000 to obtain travel concessions.
He mentioned that blue passports are now being issued to parliamentarians for three-year periods.
State Minister for Interior Talal Chaudhry said the excessive issuance of blue passports is harming visa-free arrangements and weakening Pakistan's push for broader travel facilitation.
When lawmaker Agha Rafiullah asked about the impact, Chaudhry confirmed the numbers do affect agreements with other countries.
Rafiullah contested the stance, offering to surrender his own passport and asking the government to point out the legal rules governing blue passport issuance. "We are representatives of the people. That is not a logical answer," he remarked.
Committee members requested a detailed breakdown of the 30,000 passports reduced from the overall total, which Chaudhry promised would be supplied.
