National Assembly Passes Citizenship Law Amendment to Shift Powers from Federal Government
By Muhammad MubashirPublished On 27 Mar 2026
Simple News Explanation
Pakistan’s National Assembly has passed an amendment to the Naturalization Act 1926, which deals with granting citizenship to foreigners.
The main purpose of this change is to shift decision-making powers from the Federal Government to specific authorities, making the process more structured and efficient.
What Has Changed in the Law
1. Power Shift to Immigration Authority
Earlier, decisions about citizenship (naturalization) were made by the Federal Government.
Now, these powers are transferred to:
- Director General Immigration & Passports
This means applications and approvals will be handled more directly by the relevant department.
2. Appeals System Introduced
If someone is not satisfied with a decision:
- They can appeal to the Secretary of the concerned division
- The decision of the Secretary will be final
This creates a clearer legal process.
3. Changes Across Multiple Sections
The amendment replaces the term “Federal Government” with:
- Director General Immigration & Passports
- Secretary of the administrative division
in different sections of the law to clearly define responsibilities.
Why This Bill Was Introduced
According to the Statement of Objects and Reasons :
- To follow a Cabinet decision to assign powers to appropriate authorities
- To fix legal issues where previous rules were not aligned with the law
- To make the citizenship process more clear and legally correct
Why This Matters
This amendment can:
- Speed up citizenship decisions
- Reduce bureaucratic delays
- Make the system more transparent and structured
Short Summary
- Citizenship law updated in Pakistan
- Powers shifted from Federal Govt to Immigration DG
- Appeal system added
- Aim is faster and clearer decision-making
