Pakistani passport has been ranked as the fourth worst in the world by the latest Henley Passport Index for the fourth year in a row.
The index evaluates the travel documents of 199 countries based on how many destinations their holders can enter without a prior visa.
Pakistan’s passport, in the latest index released on Tuesday, is tied at the 100th position with Yemen, allowing visa-free entry to 33 countries. This ranking is only better than those of Iraq (101), Syria (102), and Afghanistan (103), which remains the same as last year.
Afghanistan’s passport continues to be the weakest globally, with its citizens now having visa-free access to only 26 countries—the lowest ever recorded in the 19-year history of the index, according to a press release.
Pakistani newspaper Dawn reported, “Our research has consistently found a strong correlation between a country’s visa-free score and its economic prosperity. Countries with higher visa-free scores generally have a higher GDP per capita, increased foreign direct investment, and stronger international trade relationships.”
Meanwhile, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) made a significant entry into the top 10, offering visa-free access to 185 destinations, which is an increase of 152 since the index’s inception in 2006. This remarkable rise has propelled the UAE up 53 places in the rankings, from 62nd to 9th.
Also Read: India rises to 82nd in Henley Passport Index 2024
