ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) - The National Assembly’s Standing Committee on the Cabinet Secretariat backed a proposal to prohibit civil servants from holding dual citizenship.
Chaired by Ibrar Ahmed, the committee maintained that the constitutional standard applied to parliamentarians, who are barred from having multiple nationalities, should also apply to senior bureaucrats.
Committee member Noor Alam Khan questioned why civil servants are allowed privileges that elected lawmakers do not enjoy. Minister of State Tahira Aurangzeb cited her daughter’s decision to renounce Australian citizenship in order to contest elections as an example of the sacrifices made by parliamentarians.
Cabinet Secretary Kamran Ali Afzal told the committee that the government would implement the policy if parliament legislates on the issue. The Establishment Division informed members that dual citizenship is permitted in 21 countries, though some individuals acquire additional nationalities. A final decision on the proposal is expected on February 16.
In a separate discussion, the committee reviewed a proposal to grant a monthly travel allowance of Rs90,000 to federal secretaries. Members raised concerns that officers already using official vehicles should not receive both benefits. The committee directed the Cabinet Secretary to ensure strict compliance mechanisms, while the Cabinet Division opposed scrapping the requirement for officers to submit compliance certificates.