ISLAMABAD: The federal government has decided to extend the privilege of a diplomatic passport to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) after retirement.
The federal cabinet approved amendments to the Passport Rules, 2021, to formalise the decision. Previously, only the Chiefs of Army, Air, and Naval Staff were entitled to hold diplomatic passports post-retirement, while the CJCSC’s entitlement was limited to the duration of their tenure.
According to sources, the passport rules also allow several high-ranking officials—including the President, Prime Minister, Senate Chairman, National Assembly Speaker, Chief Justice of Pakistan, ISI Director General, Interior Minister, Foreign Minister, Interior Secretary, Foreign Secretary, and Principal Secretary—to retain the facility of a diplomatic passport after leaving office.
Diplomatic passports for these individuals are issued or reissued upon request following the conclusion of their service.
