In the recent report by UK-based citizenship and residence advisory firm Henley & Partners, Pakistan’s passport has experienced a continued decline, ranking as the fourth weakest passport in the world among 199 nations. The ranking is determined by assessing the number of destinations that passport holders can access without requiring a prior visa.
As of the latest report, Pakistan’s passport was ranked 101st, just above war-torn or crisis-hit countries like Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Pakistani passport holders have visa-free access or can obtain an on-arrival visa to 33 travel destinations, a decrease from the previous quarter’s 35 destinations.
The Henley Passport Index uses a scoring system to compare visa-free access for different passports to 227 travel destinations. Passports receive a score of 1 if no visa is required, or if the holder can obtain a visa on arrival, a visitor’s permit, or an electronic travel authority (ETA) upon entry. A score of 0 is assigned if a visa is required or if the passport holder needs government-approved electronic visa (e-Visa) before departure or pre-departure government approval for a visa on arrival.
Singapore’s passport ranks first with visa-free access to 192 travel destinations, while Germany, Italy, and Spain rank second with access to 190 destinations.
Pakistan’s ranking has fallen from 79th in 2006 when the index was established to 101st. This decline is attributed to a lack of comprehensive policies to attract visitors and investors from abroad. The country needs to focus on bolstering ties with other nations, improving security and the economic situation, and signing agreements for free movement to enhance its passport’s ranking.
Compared to developed or high-income countries, people from developing nations like Pakistan face more difficulties in accessing developed countries due to security, asylum, and overstay concerns.
Improving the passport ranking is essential as countries with higher rankings tend to experience faster growth, innovation, productivity, and provide more opportunities to their citizens. Having a strong passport also attracts foreign investors seeking investment opportunities, as it enables economic mobility through visa-free access to significant markets and economies worldwide.
