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Minister Mohsin Naqvi recently posted that Pakistan’s passport ranking had jumped “from 126th to 98th,” hailing it as a major achievement. The claim was widely circulated across news outlets and social media platforms.
Pakistan’s passport continues to struggle on the global mobility front, despite recent claims on social media suggesting a significant improvement.
However, official data from the 2026 Henley Passport Index tells a different story. Pakistan is currently ranked 98th, tied with Yemen for the fourth weakest passport globally, only Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria rank lower.
Pakistani passport holders can access 31 countries either visa-free or with visa-on-arrival. This number has not changed since October 2025. The country’s lowest recorded ranking over the past two decades was 113th in 2021, meaning it has never fallen to 126th as claimed.
Experts point out that multiple countries often share the same ranking, which can create the appearance of a dramatic leap. Despite minor numerical shifts- from 102nd to 98th- Pakistan’s passport still offers very limited international mobility.
In short, the recent social media celebration does not reflect a meaningful change in Pakistan’s global standing. For travelers and policymakers alike, the reality remains that the Pakistani passport is among the world’s least powerful.
