In a landmark move, the Government of Pakistan has announced that new passports will now feature the mother’s name alongside the father’s—a first in the country’s history. The decision, hailed as a step toward gender equality and recognition of mothers’ legal identity, was confirmed by the Directorate General of Immigration and Passports (DGIP) on Friday.
Officials stated that the new format will be implemented in upcoming passport issuances, allowing citizens to include both parents’ names in official records. The initiative is part of broader reforms to make Pakistan’s identity documentation system more inclusive and reflective of modern family dynamics.
Human rights groups and social activists have welcomed the change, calling it a “progressive and long-overdue step” that acknowledges the vital role of mothers in a child’s identity.
The new passports are expected to be rolled out nationwide in the coming months, following final technical updates and printing adjustments.
