In a rare public admission, the government acknowledged Pakistan’s poor global passport ranking during a National Assembly session on Thursday, pledging reforms to restore international credibility.
Chaired by Deputy Speaker Ghulam Mustafa Shah, the session saw Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Tariq Fazal Chaudhry address concerns over the country’s passport, which ranks 103rd in the 2025 global index.
“Respect for the green passport doesn’t come from how it looks, but from fixing internal problems and restoring national dignity,” Chaudhry stated during Question Hour. He stressed that the solution lies in domestic reform, not cosmetic changes.
A written response from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs revealed that the Pakistani passport currently offers visa-free access to only 35 countries—an indicator of its weak global standing. The ministry also admitted that past instances of illegally issued passports to non-Pakistanis, especially Afghan nationals, have severely undermined the passport’s credibility.
Chaudhry noted that global perceptions are further damaged when individuals lobby for anti-Pakistan resolutions abroad. “When you malign your own country on foreign soil, you diminish the respect for your passport,” he warned, urging unity and responsible conduct from the diaspora.
He also referenced the events of May 9 and 10, stating that Pakistan’s firm response to Indian missile and air strikes helped restore some international respect.
To address systemic issues, the government is planning institutional reforms. Lawmakers were informed that the Ministry of Interior is in the process of establishing a new agency—the Pakistan Immigration, Passport, and Visa Authority—aimed at enhancing passport security and overhauling the visa and immigration system.
