The Pakistani passport has been ranked the fourth worst in the world, a rating it has retained from last year, according to the Henley Ranking Index, which is based on the number of destinations which do not require its holders to obtain a prior visa. While the ranking reflects in part diplomatic activity, because such visa-less or visa-on-arrival arrangements have to be pursued by diplomats, the ranking is really determined by how the country itself is doing. And that is where Pakistan falls down.
The first issue is that Pakistan is hardly a good tourist destination, mainly because it is seen by the rest of the world as unsafe. The improvement in the law and order situation in recent years was not communicated abroad by any government, and the resurgence of terrorism will have a negative impact on Pakistan’ image, and thus on the chances of any improvement in Pakistan’s passport ranking. Another important avenue is the shying away of the business traveler, basically because the security threat makes an investment here dangerous, thus making the country not worth visiting, not to mention that the same reason makes the traveller stay away.
That the ranking is low is basically a reflection of the perception that Pakistan is a dangerous country to come to. Only if enough people want to visit from abroad, that they build up pressure on their own governments to ease visa restrictions, will Pakistan’s diplomats be able to make visa-less deals. This is something for which all parties must share responsibility, for none has done much to address the fundamental problems that have caused this situation, even though all have had a turn at ruling. Unfortunately, the ranking seems as low on the government’s list of priorities as the main reason for it, a poor law and order situation. It thus seems unlikely for the government to do much about the situation, and thus likely that the Pakistani passport will continue to get scant respect.
