ISLAMABAD: Pakistani passport has been ranked the fourth weakest passport in the world, according to a global citizenship and residence advisory company, Henley & Partners.
According to the Henley Passport Index, which assesses 227 countries, Pakistan stands at the 100th position. The company determines this ranking based on the number of destinations Pakistani residents can visit without needing a visa.
Earlier this year, a London-based advisory firm listed Pakistan among the five countries with the lowest-ranked passports. Until January this year, Pakistanis had access to 35 countries with an on-arrival visa facility, but it has now decreased to 33.
In contrast, Singapore holds the top position in the index, possessing the most-coveted passport in the world. Singaporeans can visit at least 193 destinations visa-free out of the total 227. Meanwhile, Japan shares the third position with South Korea, Austria, Finland, France, Luxembourg, and Sweden, offering their citizens access to 189 destinations without a prior visa.
While Asia has traditionally dominated the rankings, Europe is making a comeback, with Germany, Italy, and Spain rising to the second spot, providing visa-free access to 190 destinations.
The United States and the United Kingdom, once leaders in the index, are witnessing a decline in their rankings. Britain has shown improvement, moving up to fourth place. While, the US ranking has dropped to eighth with access to 183 visa-free destinations.
The Henley Passport Index ranks 199 passports based on International Air Transport Association (IATA) data. The company regularly updated to reflect changes in visa policies. Over the years, the average number of visa-free destinations for travelers has nearly doubled, from 58 in 2006 to 109.
Despite overall improvements, there remains a significant gap in travel freedom between top-ranked and bottom-ranked countries.
Conflict-ridden nations such as Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria possess the least travel privileges, with access to just 27, 29, and 30 destinations, respectively.
According to a statement by Henley & Partners, the general trend over the 18-year history of the ranking has been towards greater travel freedom. The average number of visa-free destinations that travelers can access has nearly doubled from 58 in 2006 to 109 in 2023.
