Pakistan’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) was informed of a massive passport theft scandal involving 32,600 documents from 25 offices nationwide.
During Subcommittee IV’s meeting, chaired by Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, Passports Director General Mustafa Qazi admitted the thefts occurred over “different years.” The revelation has sparked major national security concerns.
Qazi revealed that thousands of passports were stolen from offices, including Abbottabad. Audit authorities confirmed 32,600 documents were missing. Chaudhry called it a “very worrying matter,” noting the potential for misuse under current circumstances. Qazi assured all stolen passports have been blocked and won’t be reissued or reviewed.
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The Ministry of Interior has arrested foreigners using stolen passports for illegal travel to Saudi Arabia. Riyadh deported Afghan citizens caught with fake documents. Qazi highlighted a cyber-audit of the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) two years ago, making fake documents harder to produce. The PAC instructed Qazi to submit an inquiry report to address the security lapse.
Stolen passports pose serious risks for identity theft, terrorism, and illegal immigration. With Pakistan facing heightened security challenges, this breach undermines national safety. The digitisation push aims to prevent future incidents, but the scale of theft demands urgent investigation and reforms.
The theft of 32,600 passports across Pakistan exposes critical vulnerabilities in document security. As the PAC demands answers, the nation watches for action.
