During a National Assembly session chaired by Deputy Speaker Ghulam Mustafa Shah, the government on Thursday openly admitted the weak global standing of the Pakistani passport, ranking 103rd in the world as per the 2025 global index.
Responding during the Question Hour, Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Tariq Fazal Chaudhry said that the passport's global respect is not achieved by simply making it "colourful," but by fixing internal issues and restoring national dignity.
“The respect of the green passport won’t come through appearances, but by putting one's own house in order,” the minister remarked, acknowledging issues in the passport system.
In a written reply from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, it was revealed that Pakistan's passport allows visa-free access to only 35 countries, highlighting its weak international influence. The ministry also admitted that in the past, many non-Pakistanis — particularly Afghans — were illegally issued Pakistani passports, which has severely damaged its credibility.
Tariq Fazal Chaudhry emphasized that negative global perceptions are worsened when individuals abroad get anti-Pakistan resolutions passed in foreign countries.
He added that the respect the Pakistani passport had on May 9, 2025, had significantly improved by May 10, in the wake of Pakistan's response to Indian missile and air strikes.
“When you try to malign your own country abroad, the world won’t respect your passport either,” he said, urging national unity to uplift Pakistan’s reputation.
The National Assembly was further informed that the Ministry of Interior is working on establishing a new body — the Pakistan Immigration, Passport, and Visa Authority — to improve passport security and streamline the visa system.
