The annual report has ranked the Pakistani passport 104 out of 107 countries maintaining its rank of 104 from 2018.
The rank is based on the number of countries allowed to travel visa-free.
Currently, Pakistani passport holders can travel to 31 countries, either visa-free or visa on arrival.
Pakistan’s neighbour Afghanistan remains at the bottom of the ranking, in 107th place, with a visa-free/visa-on-arrival score of just 25.
India ranked as 82 decreasing its rank from 81 in 2018 and its passport holders can travel to 59 destinations visa-free.
Pakistan Passport Ranking from 2006 to 2019. Published by Henley Passport Index Source: henleypassportindex.com
In Southeast Asia, Singapore, Malaysia, and Brunei, respectively, hold the top 3 spots, while Myanmar, in 95th place globally, remains the poorest performer in the region.
Meanwhile, Australia lost 2 spots in its rank from 7th in 2018 to 9th in 2019. Australian passport holders can travel to 181 countries visa-free.
Dr Christian H. Kaelin, Chairman of Henley & Partners and the creator of the passport index concept, said that “Our ongoing research has shown that when we talk about ’passport power‘, we are discussing more than simply the destinations a holder can travel to without acquiring a visa in advance.”
“Often, there is a strong correlation between visa freedom and other benefits such as business and investment freedom, independence of the judiciary, fiscal health, and property rights,” said Dr Kaelin.
Top 5 according to Henley Passport Index 2019:
1. Japan, Singapore | Visa-free access to 190 countries
2. Finland, Germany, South Korea | Visa-free access to 188 countries
3. Denmark, Italy, Luxembourg | Visa-free access to 187 countries
4. France, Spain, Sweden | Visa-free access to 186 countries
5. Austria, Netherlands, Portugal | Visa-free access to 185 countries
Bottom 5 according to Henley Passport Index 2019:
103. Yemen | Visa-free access to 33 countries
104. Pakistan, Somalia | Visa-free access to 31 countries
105. Syria | Visa-free access to 29 countries
106. Iraq | Visa-free access to 27 countries
107. Afghanistan | Visa-free access to 25 countries
In the last five years, Pakistan has consistently ranked amongst the five weakest passports globally.
Currently, four countries from Asia, 14 from Africa, seven from Oceania, five from the Caribbean, and one from the Middle East region allow either visa-free or visa on arrival facilities for Pakistani Passport holders.
Countries which allow visa-free travel or visa on arrival facility to Pakistani passport holders. Source: Henley Passport Index Website
