According to the Henley Passport Index, the Pakistani passport is now included in the top 100th passports in the world. The annual Henley Passport Index 2025 ranked Pakistan’s passport at the 100th spot, which has been a notable improvement from its 113th position in 2021.
This ranking grants visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 32 countries. The improvement in the index reflects Pakistan’s growing positive impact on the international community.
Director General of Immigration and Passports, Mustafa Jamal Qazi, felicitated the nation on this progress and credited the accomplishment to the support provided by Interior Minister Mohsen Naqvi and the Interior Secretary. He claimed that the modern security updates, including the rollout of e-passports equipped with contactless NFC chips compliant with ICAO standards, have improved the passports of countries.
To further ease travel, e-gates will soon be introduced at all major airports in Pakistan, streamlining the immigration process for e-passport holders. He also confirmed that the nationwide passport backlog has been cleared, ensuring timely processing. He said that improved infrastructure at passport offices is delivering fast and more efficient services to applicants.
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The government is also planning to introduce online passport services and the Passport Fee Azaan mobile app now for overseas Pakistanis, which will help them to pay the fee in seconds. In addition, a passport application app is also in development to let citizens apply from home.
Qazi is optimistic that Pakistan’s passport ranking will continue to improve in the coming years with the continued backing from the Ministry of Interior. Back in January 2025, Pakistan’s passport power was hit, ranking 103rd on the Handler Passport Index, lower than that of the Palestinian Territory, which stands at 100th.
Over the past years, several factors have contributed to the dwindling status of the Pakistani passport. In 2020-23, Saudi authorities had confiscated 12,000 Pakistani passports from Afghan citizens using fake credentials. Pakistani authorities were implicated in issuing fake citizenship documents, particularly to illegal immigrants, including Afghans. Moreover, 23 passport links linked to individuals involved in an attack on the former Chief Justice of Pakistan in London were cancelled.