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The Henley Passport Index, a global ranking of passports based on their visa-free access, has once again placed the Pakistani passport at the fourth position among the ‘worst’ passports in the world. This marks the fourth consecutive year with no improvement in its ranking, according to a report by Henley Global, a prominent London-based firm specializing in residence and citizenship services worldwide.
The latest ranking assessed 199 passports globally, and the Pakistani passport secured the 101st position out of 104 countries, holding a score of 34 on the Henley Passport Index. Notably, this places Pakistan just above Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan, which are the only countries ranked lower in the ‘worst’ passport category.
Despite its standing, the report brings a silver lining as Pakistani passport holders can obtain a visa on arrival in 34 countries, provided they fulfill all the necessary requirements upon arrival at the respective country’s airport. The visa-free travel options are limited, with access to only 34 countries, including Barbados, Burundi, Cape Verde Islands, Haiti, Kenya, Maldives, Mozambique, Sri Lanka, and others.
Comparatively, Syria has visa-free access to 29 countries, Iraq to 31 countries, and Afghanistan to 28 countries. While Pakistan’s South Asian neighbors, such as Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Nepal, also face passport challenges, they have managed slightly better rankings. Bangladesh secured the 97th position with visa-free access to 42 countries, Sri Lanka climbed to the 96th spot, and Nepal holds the 98th position.
Among the South Asian countries, India performed relatively better, maintaining its 80th position on the list. Indian passport holders enjoy visa-free access to 62 countries, placing them in a more favorable position than their regional counterparts.
The Henley Passport Index also highlighted the world’s most powerful passports, with France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Singapore, and Spain sharing the top spot. Following closely are Finland, South Korea, and Sweden in second place, and Austria, Ireland, Denmark, and the Netherlands in third place. The United Kingdom secured the fourth position, while the United States and Canada jointly held the seventh spot, and the United Arab Emirates ranked eleventh.
The persistent ranking of the Pakistani passport among the world’s ‘worst’ passports calls for attention to explore avenues for improvement in international travel access and diplomatic relations.
