The Ministry of Foreign Affairs revealed in the National Assembly that the global ranking of the Pakistani passport has plummeted to 103, granting its holders visa-free access to only 35 countries.  The decline has been linked to illegal travel and the use of counterfeit Pakistani documents by Afghan nationals. The Foreign Ministry presented a crucial report regarding the status and challenges of the Pakistani passport, commonly known as the Green Passport in the assembly secretariat.  

The report cited the Henley Passport Index 2025, which placed the Pakistani passport near the bottom of the global rankings. Currently, holders of Pakistani passports can travel to only 35 destinations without requiring a visa. The report highlighted several key issues behind the declining status, including the country’s political and economic instability, illegal immigration, and misuse of passport documents.  

It further stated that the use of fake Pakistani documents by Afghan citizens has intensified the problem, damaging Pakistan’s international reputation and diminishing travel freedom for its citizens. To address these challenges, the government has taken steps such as digitizing passport services and launching strict actions against the issuance of fake passports. The Foreign Ministry emphasized that the Interior Ministry must adopt a long-term strategy aimed at improving Pakistan’s global standing and enhancing the credibility of its passport. 

It is important to note that on April 10, 2025, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi announced that new passport issuance requirements would act as a deterrent against beggary and illegal immigration.  While chairing a meeting during his visit to the Directorate General of Immigration and Passports in Islamabad, he directed officials to complete all legal formalities related to the new requirements on a priority basis.

He further instructed that full implementation be ensured on the directive to block passports of deported individuals. During his visit, the Interior Minister inspected six newly installed Machine Readable Passport systems and two E-passport machines.  Minister Naqvi stated that the new machines would significantly increase the passport office’s printing capacity, which will help accelerate the delivery of passports to the public.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)