Pakistan Passport Drops to 103rd Globally in Latest Ranking
The Pakistani passport has declined to 103rd place in the latest global rankings released by Henley & Partners, placing it below countries such as Somalia, Yemen, Bangladesh, the Palestinian Authority, Ethiopia, and Libya. Citizens of these nations have broader travel privileges, with visa-free access to 38 countries, while Pakistani passport holders can only access 34 countries without a visa.
The report highlights that Singapore currently holds the world’s strongest passport, with its citizens enjoying visa-free access to 195 countries. Following Singapore, citizens of France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and Spain can enter 192 countries without requiring a visa. Afghanistan ranks lowest, with its citizens having visa-free access to just 28 countries.
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Analysts cite several factors behind the declining reputation of the Pakistani passport. One contributing issue is the significant number of Pakistanis attempting to migrate illegally to Europe due to Pakistan’s current political and economic instability. Additionally, many Pakistani nationals reside illegally in Gulf countries, where some engage in activities like begging, which is criminalized in countries like Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Pakistani prisons in Saudi Arabia reportedly hold many citizens involved in such activities.
Another challenge impacting the passport’s reputation involves Afghan refugees in Pakistan, who have reportedly obtained Pakistani passports through bribes, further damaging the credibility of Pakistan’s travel document.
