Social media has been buzzing with claims that Pakistan’s passport has made a huge leap on the Henley Passport Index, jumping from 109th in 2023 to 100th in 2025. Sounds like progress, right? Well, not so fast.
What’s Really Going On?
When fact-checkers at jaaf.pk reached out to Henley & Partners Holdings Ltd for clarification, here’s the exact response they received:
“In the index we rank 199 passports according to how many destinations they have visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to (their visa-free score). When two or more passports have access to the same number of destinations however, they are given the same ranking. This means the lowest number on the ranking will fluctuate, depending on how much consolidation there is higher up the list.”
What This Actually Means
1️⃣ No New Travel Freedoms
Pakistan’s visa-free score remains unchanged at just 32 destinations – the same as 2023. The improved ranking number is simply due to other passports being grouped together in the rankings.
2️⃣ Still in the Bottom Tier
At #100, Pakistan now shares its rank with countries like Somalia and Yeman – not exactly travel powerhouses. For comparison:
- Japan/Singapore: 193 visa-free destinations
- Germany/Spain: 190
- Even India (85 destinations) outpaces Pakistan
3️⃣ The Hype vs Reality
This isn’t about diplomatic progress – it’s about how rankings are calculated. As Henley & Partners confirmed, when multiple countries have the same visa-free score, they receive identical rankings, causing positions to shift without actual improvement in travel access.
The Bottom Line
Don’t let viral headlines fool you. True passport power comes from actual visa agreements, not ranking fluctuations. Until Pakistan negotiates more visa waivers, travel freedom remains limited.
Your Turn:
Have you found any creative ways to travel with a Pakistani passport? Share your hacks below! And if you found this clarification helpful, share it to stop the misinformation spread.
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