PESHAWAR – The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly has unanimously approved amendments to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly Members’ Privileges and Salaries Act 2026, including the withdrawal of a provision allowing lawmakers to retain blue passports for life.
The provincial assembly session was chaired by Deputy Speaker Suraya Bibi, during which the amended bill concerning members’ privileges and perks was approved.
Under the amendments, the provision for lifetime blue passports has been withdrawn. The official passport will now remain valid only for the duration of a lawmaker’s membership of the provincial assembly.
The assembly also reduced the number of free arms licences available to each lawmaker back to four.
The amendments further reduced fines and punishments applicable to journalists and introduced changes to certain controversial provisions contained in the First Schedule.
Meanwhile, the KP Assembly passed a resolution opposing a proposal to include Haripur and Abbottabad in the federal capital territory. The resolution was moved by Provincial Minister Akbar Ayub.
Akbar Ayub said a proposal had been put forward to include Haripur and Abbottabad in the federal capital and stressed that both areas were an integral part of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The resolution stated that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has political and economic rights over the province and its natural resources.
After unanimously approving the amendments to the Privileges and Perks Act 2026, the KP Assembly adjourned its session until August 10.
