Pakistan Enters Top 100 of Global Passport Index, Eyes Further Gains with Digital Upgrades

Pakistan’s passport has made a notable leap in global mobility rankings, entering the top 100 in the 2025 Henley Passport Index for the first time, according to figures released by Henley & Partners.

Ranked 100th, up from 113th in 2021, the Pakistani passport now allows visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 32 countries—a modest but symbolically important improvement that officials attribute to recent policy and technology reforms.

Director General of Immigration and Passports, Mustafa Jamal Qazi, credited the Interior Ministry’s leadership for the upward shift. He pointed to the rollout of biometric e-passports embedded with NFC chips that meet International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards as a key driver of increased credibility abroad.

In a bid to further streamline travel, Qazi announced that electronic gates will soon be operational at all major airports, allowing e-passport holders expedited entry and exit. Additionally, a nationwide backlog in passport issuance has been cleared, restoring routine service timelines for applicants.

Modernisation efforts have extended to overseas services as well. Pakistanis abroad can now access online passport renewals, while the “Passport Fee Asaan” mobile app enables rapid digital payments. A new app allowing citizens to apply for passports from home is also in the pipeline.

“These developments are part of a broader push to align Pakistan’s passport infrastructure with global standards,” Qazi said. “With continued institutional support, we expect further improvements in the country’s international travel ranking.”