Pakistani Passport Ranks 4th Lowest in GPI

News Desk
Islamabad: The Pakistani passport continues to hold its position as the fourth weakest globally in the newyear, with no signs of improvement over the past five years, according to a report by The News on Thursday.
The ranking has persisted as the fourth lowest since July of the previous year, based on data from Henley and Partners, a UK-based advisory firm specializing in citizenship and residence. The firm’s index evaluates and ranks 199 nations in terms of passport strength.

Related  https://www.geo.tv/latest/526569-pakistani-passport-remains-4th-worst-globally
According to the Global Mobility Report 2024 by Henley and Partners, Pakistan’s passport holds the 101st position out of 104 on the Henley Passport Index, scoring 34. This indicates that ordinary Pakistani passport holders enjoy visa-free access to only 34 out of 227 destinations covered in the index. The rankings are determined based on the number of countries and territories accessible without a prior visa, utilizing data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
The top position on the global passport strength scale is shared by six countries—France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and Singapore—each scoring 194. This marks a significant two-spot jump for France, Germany, and Italy, which shared the third position with four other countries in the previous year. Tied at the second spot with a score of 193 are Finland, South Korea, and Sweden, while the third spot is shared by Austria, Denmark, Ireland, and the Netherlands, all scoring 192.
Afghanistan holds the undesirable title of the world’s weakest passport, with citizens having visa-free entry to only 28 destinations. Syria and Iraq follow closely, offering access to 29 and 31 destinations, respectively.
Despite some improvement compared to Pakistan, other South Asian countries have relatively low rankings. Bangladesh stands at 97, with visa-free access to 42 destinations, while Sri Lanka is one spot ahead at 96 with a score of 45. Nepal secures the 98th spot with a score of 40. India performs comparatively better, holding the 80th spot with a score of 62.
The Pakistani passport provides visa-free access to a limited number of destinations, including Barbados, Burundi, Cambodia, Cape Verde Islands, Comoro Islands, Cook Islands, Djibouti, Dominica, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Kenya, Madagascar, Maldives, Micronesia, Montserrat, Mozambique, Nepal, Niue, Palau Islands, Qatar, Rwanda, Samoa, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sri Lanka, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu.
Henley and Partners Chairperson Dr. Christian H Kaelin notes that although the overall trend has been towards greater travel freedom, the global mobility gap between top and bottom-ranked countries is widening. The average number of destinations accessible without a visa has almost doubled from 58 in 2006 to 111 in 2024, emphasizing the considerable difference between top-ranked and bottom-ranked countries.
Experts also highlight the increasing use of technology in travel-related tasks. IATA Senior Vice President Commercial Products and Services Frederic Leger emphasizes the need for automation in checking and verifying travel documents, as passenger traffic is expected to double by 2040. Passengers are willing to share their data in advance to streamline these processes.