The Henley Passport Index for the first half of 2025 puts Pakistan at joint 103rd position and it shares this position with Yemen. Pakistan has once again ranked among the countries with the weakest passports in this passport index. The index, published by Henley & Partners, ranks passports based on the number of countries their holders can access without a prior visa.
As in the previous years, Singapore holds the top spot, and its nationals are allowed visa-free access to 195 countries worldwide. At number two is Japan, close behind Singapore.
In the bottom half lies Pakistan ranks among the weakest passports globally, in joint 103rd position, alongside Yemen. Pakistani nationals have access to only 33 countries without a visa. Even so-called friendly and brotherly countries like Saudi Arabia and UAE are weary of Pakistani travellers who try to hoodwink authorities and enter these countries illegally, for work as unskilled labourers and for begging at holy sites.
The countries with weaker passports than Pakistan include Iraq (104th), Syria (105th), and Afghanistan (106th). Somalia, Nepal, Palestine, and Bangladesh are ranked just above Pakistan, with Somalia holding the 102nd spot.
Of course, beggars from Pakistan are a huge headache for Saudia Arabia as these beggars pester international travellers frequenting Mecca and Medina for alms. There are now repeated crackdowns and deportations of dozens of Pakistanis who have been identified as habitual offenders.
India is ranked 85th, China at 60th, Iran at 96th, and Saudi Arabia holds the 58th position in the latest index.
After Singapore with the most powerful passport, Japan follows closely behind, ranked as the second most powerful passport, granting visa-free entry to 193 nations. South Korea, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and Finland are jointly ranked third, with visa-free access to 192 countries.
The fourth spot is held by Austria, Denmark, Ireland, Luxembourg, Norway, Sweden, and the Netherlands, whose passports offer access to 191 countries. Belgium, Portugal, New Zealand, Switzerland, and the UK are in fifth place, with their passports granting entry to 190 nations.
Australia and Greece share the sixth spot, with visa-free access to 189 countries, while Canada, Malta, and Poland are ranked seventh, offering visa-free travel to 188 nations.
Meanwhile, in a span of about 24 hours beginning Tuesday, 258 Pakistanis were deported from seven countries, including Saudi Arabia, UAE, China, Turkey, Malaysia and Nigeria. Among them, 14 had Pakistani passports, while 244 were deported on emergency travel documents. No less than 232 Pakistanis were deported by Saudi Arabia and they numbered 232, including seven confirmed beggars. They were repatriated via various flights. Two individuals were caught performing Hajj without permits and sent back after they had completed their sentences, according to a report of The Tribune.
From the UAE, 21 deportees, including four involved in drug trafficking, came. One individual each was deported from China, Qatar, Indonesia, Cyprus, and Nigeria. Among the deportees from the UAE and Nigeria, 16 individuals were listed on the FIA’s immigration stop list but were released after interrogation.
The trend of deportations has been rising significantly, according to immigration officials. During the same period, the Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) Immigration Cell offloaded 35 passengers at the Karachi airport who were travelling to various countries. Dozens of Pakistanis were offloaded from the aircraft and others were not allowed to board international flights as they tried to travel on insufficient and improper documents. Several were attempting to travel on tourist visas, but they did not have advance hotel bookings and inadequate funds.
The immigration authorities have been trying to educated the would-be travellers that passengers must have complete documentation, proper visas, advance bookings and sufficient funds to avoid deportations. Unnamed officials said that international beggars are bringing a bad name to Pakistan as Saudi Arabia and UAE are not looking at all Pakistanis suspiciously.
