Pakistan Ranked Among World’s Lowest-Ranked Passports in Global Mobility Index

Pakistan’s passport has been ranked 91st globally, tied with Somalia, in the latest international passport index, with an overall score of 33.5. The ranking places Pakistan among the lowest-performing passports worldwide, highlighting ongoing challenges faced by Pakistani travelers in terms of mobility, global perception, and personal freedom.

Unlike traditional passport rankings that focus solely on visa-free travel, this index uses a broader methodology. It evaluates passports across multiple indicators, including international travel access, taxation policies, global reputation, dual citizenship regulations, and levels of personal freedom. These factors collectively determine how attractive and functional a passport is for global mobility and quality of life.

According to the report, Pakistani passport holders currently have access to 45 destinations through visa-free entry, visa on arrival, or electronic travel authorization. This gives Pakistan a travel score of 45, which contributes 50 percent to the overall ranking. Despite slight improvements in recent years, the number remains low compared to regional and global averages, significantly limiting international travel opportunities for citizens.

In terms of taxation, Pakistan scored 20, indicating that citizens have the ability to relocate abroad to reduce or avoid domestic tax obligations. The country also received a score of 20 for global perception, reflecting the moderate to high level of scrutiny Pakistani travelers often face at international borders due to security concerns, documentation checks, and visa restrictions.

Pakistan earned a dual citizenship score of 30, as its laws allow citizens to hold multiple nationalities with specific countries, though restrictions still apply. However, the country’s personal freedom score stood at just 20, placing it in the lower tier globally. This score reflects limitations related to civil liberties, freedom of movement, and individual rights, which also influence the overall passport ranking.

The index’s list of the 10 lowest-ranked passports includes Yemen, Somalia, Palestine, Iran, Pakistan, North Korea, Iraq, Eritrea, Syria, and Afghanistan. Among these, only North Korea, Iraq, Eritrea, Syria, and Afghanistan ranked lower than Pakistan, underscoring the difficult position of the Pakistani passport on the global stage.

The findings highlight the need for sustained diplomatic engagement, improved global perception, and policy reforms to enhance travel freedom and international standing for Pakistani citizens in the future.