Pakistani passport third worst for international travel

[Khyam]

http://tribune.com.pk/story/823389/pakistani-passport-third-worst-for-visa-free-travel/

When looking to travel abroad, your primary travel document — the passport — can sometimes help you narrow your choices given which countries are easily accessible to you, or hidden behind a visa requirement. If, per chance, you have a Pakistani passport, you are in for filling visa forms for most destinations around the world given how the green passport ranks as the third worst passport for travel freedom.

Henley & Partners, a company that assists wealthy clients with residence and citizenship planning and the company behind the Visa Restrictions Index, has ranked countries according to the number of other countries their citizens can travel to without having to obtain a visa.

Pakistan shares the spot with Somalia, with citizens of both countries enjoying visa-free access to only 32 destinations around the world. Only citizens of Iraq (31) and Afghanistan (28) are worse off.
Ranked number one, citizens of Finland, Germany, Sweden, the US and the UK, all have visa-free access to 174 destinations across the globe, followed by Canada and Denmark in second spot with visa-free access to 173 countries.

“Visa requirements are … an expression of the relationships between individual nations,” the company’s websites notes, and, “generally reflect the relations and status of a country within the international community of nations.”

There are 219 countries or territories on the list ranked into 94 positions, with countries often sharing positions. The maximum attainable score is 218.

The index is produced in cooperation with the International Air Transport Association (IATA), which maintains the world’s largest database of travel information.

 

[Friend786]

I hate my passport , can't travel anywhere on it except for some African countries.

 

[Sakss]

Uk passport zindabad

 

[Buffet]

I hate my passport , can't travel anywhere on it except for some African countries.

This whole index is about where you can travel without visa. I am sure that you can travel to almost every country with visa.

 

[Friend786]

This whole index is about where you can travel without visa. I am sure that you can travel to almost every country with visa.

yeah i meant without visa i can't travel to many places with my passport.

 

[iHammad]

Canadaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

 

[raskolnikov]

My brother has a USA passport but treatment is the same that most Pakistanis face while traveling abroad. He is always stopped by usa immigration officers for a screening whenever he goes back there after spending some time in Pakistan.

kind of discrimination really because he was not born and raised in USA by birth.

 

[Buffet]

My brother has a USA passport but treatment is the same that most Pakistanis face while traveling abroad. He is always stopped by usa immigration officers for a screening whenever he goes back there after spending some time in Pakistan.

kind of discrimination really because he was not born and raised in USA by birth.

More restrictions on Pakistani passport is due to the same reason your brother faces extra screening after spending time in Pakistan but I am very sure that he faces a whole lot less restrictions due to having a US passport while travelling.

If you want to draw a parallel here then compare how much extra screening he faces when he travels to all countries without spending time in Pakistan. You are mixing two different thing here.

 

[dhump]

Very true even the blue passport for asylum seekers are more valuable than Pakistani passport.

 

[Firebreaker]

Lol we can visit every country with visa except for Israel.I have visited dozen of countries with my Pakistani passport

 

[Saeed]

How hard is it to fill a form, go for a security check up or whatever? Pakistani passport is the best since it doesn't recognize Israel so these rankings don't mean anything.

 

[Laal]

How hard is it to fill a form, go for a security check up or whatever? Pakistani passport is the best since it doesn't recognize Israel so these rankings don't mean anything.

What're you talking about? The rankings are based on access to on-arrival visas et al.

 

[Sakss]

It is extremely difficult to get visas for Pakistani in Qatar. My in laws had a recent experience where a 200 riyal visa cost them 1000 riyal and they only got that tourist visa on my basis otherwise immigration refuses.

 

[Laal]

It is extremely difficult to get visas for Pakistani in Qatar. My in laws had a recent experience where a 200 riyal visa cost them 1000 riyal and they only got that tourist visa on my basis otherwise immigration refuses.

Not to mention that you get treated like crap when you visit the so-called muqaddas Arab countries. My parents recently traveled to UAE and were harassed by the immigration official. But, once he found out that they actually had a US passport, the said official apologized unconditionally. Since then, I have made it a point to flaunt my blue passport at every airport.

 

[Laal]

Not to mention that you get treated like crap when you visit the so-called muqaddas Arab countries. My parents recently traveled to UAE and were harassed by one of the immigration officials there. But, once he found out that they actually had a US passport, the said official apologized unconditionally. Ever since I have made it a point to flaunt my blue passport at every airport.

 

[hamzie]

straya passport!

 

[Varun]

The Indian passport seems to be several shades better. I particularly like the fact that any Indian can simply walk out into Hong Kong without any Visa (as long as he displays that he will return to India within 2 weeks).

I believe we don't need a visa for certain niche countries like Cyprus too (we sent peacekeeping forces there once), as well as Nepal, Bhutan etc. Getting a Lankan visa for a quick weekend tour is easy as well.

 

[Varun]

The Indian passport seems to be several shades better. I particularly like the fact that any Indian can simply walk out into Hong Kong without any Visa (as long as he displays that he will return to India within 2 weeks).

I believe we don't need a visa for certain niche countries like Cyprus too (we sent peacekeeping forces there once), as well as Nepal, Bhutan etc. Getting a Lankan visa for a quick weekend tour is easy as well.

Of course, more can be done to make our case stronger. Visa on Arrival is restricted to several S.E. Asian countries, perhaps that can be expanded.

 

[Sakss]

Not to mention that you get treated like crap when you visit the so-called muqaddas Arab countries. My parents recently traveled to UAE and were harassed by the immigration official. But, once he found out that they actually had a US passport, the said official apologized unconditionally. Since then, I have made it a point to flaunt my blue passport at every airport.

The GCC doesn't give a damn about Asian passports..passengers are unnecessarily stopped and asked irrelevant questions etc , but when they see European passports there are no questions, no checks, no harassment nothing

 

[DW44]

This whole index is about where you can travel without visa. I am sure that you can travel to almost every country with visa.

The hoops that most countries (justifiably) put holders of Pakistani passports through for a visa can be so off putting that, in practice, your choices are severely narrowed down just because the visa process is often more trouble than it's worth. Australia and NZ, for instance, take roughly 9-12 months minimum to process a visa application by a Pakistani passport holder.

 

[shortbread]

The Indian passport seems to be several shades better. I particularly like the fact that any Indian can simply walk out into Hong Kong without any Visa (as long as he displays that he will return to India within 2 weeks).

I believe we don't need a visa for certain niche countries like Cyprus too (we sent peacekeeping forces there once), as well as Nepal, Bhutan etc. Getting a Lankan visa for a quick weekend tour is easy as well.

Well not in the middle east!!

They treat u like second class citizen especially at the airports. Why do I have to show a british passport to be treated with decency. Whats wrong with a Pakistani, Bangldeshi, Indian or Sri Lankan passport?!

When war broke out in the Middle East the first to flee the country were the preferred skin colours. The undesirables were the ones to stuck around, irrespective of the fact that it was out of helplessness or a sense of obligation toward the land that pays their wages.

Arab are thankless scum and their turn will come some day.

 

[Buffet]

The hoops that most countries (justifiably) put holders of Pakistani passports through for a visa can be so off putting that, in practice, your choices are severely narrowed down just because the visa process is often more trouble than it's worth. Australia and NZ, for instance, take roughly 9-12 months minimum to process a visa application by a Pakistani passport holder.

Oh, I would have imagined that for visiting India due to bad relations but surprised to hear that it takes that long for Aus/NZ with Pakistani passport. I think it's a temporary situation due to security situation in Pakistan. 12-15 years back, situation must have been a better with Pakistani passport.

 

[Varun]

Well not in the middle east!!

They treat u like second class citizen especially at the airports. Why do I have to show a british passport to be treated with decency. Whats wrong with a Pakistani, Bangldeshi, Indian or Sri Lankan passport?!

When war broke out in the Middle East the first to flee the country were the preferred skin colours. The undesirables were the ones to stuck around, irrespective of the fact that it was out of helplessness or a sense of obligation toward the land that pays their wages.

Arab are thankless scum and their turn will come some day.

Oh I agree, I lived in the Gulf myself for over a decade.

As far as Indians are concerned, they have no long lasting relationship with any of the Persian Gulf states, and have no interest of becoming a citizen and starting a multi-generational family there (not that you can easily do these things unlike in the West). We're just there to rake in the moolah and ride on the oil bandwagon for a few years before heading back home.

Pakistanis may have a different, more favourable view of these countries though.

 

[Friend786]

And the problem is that value of green passport is getting worse day by day. Last year , even Sri Lanka slammed visa restrictions on Pakistani citizens. Why do i get treated as third-class citizen and face discrimination for doing nothing , just because our statesman doesn't give a damn about their country's reputation?

 

[Yossarian]

On the other hand, Pakistani's can hold onto their Pakistani nationalities, as well as obtaining new ones, such as US or UK passports/nationalities, whereas, as far as I'm aware, Indians cannot. Indians have to choose between having an Indian passport/nationality or a passport/nationality of, for example, the USA or UK. Perhaps an Indian could clarify?

 

[Varun]

On the other hand, Pakistani's can hold onto their Pakistani nationalities, as well as obtaining new ones, such as US or UK passports/nationalities, whereas, as far as I'm aware, Indians cannot. Indians have to choose between having an Indian passport/nationality or a passport/nationality of, for example, the USA or UK. Perhaps an Indian could clarify?

Nope. While I am not aware of the 'law' in particular, I know folks holding both American and Indian passports.

 

[Mamoon]

On the other hand, Pakistani's can hold onto their Pakistani nationalities, as well as obtaining new ones, such as US or UK passports/nationalities, whereas, as far as I'm aware, Indians cannot. Indians have to choose between having an Indian passport/nationality or a passport/nationality of, for example, the USA or UK. Perhaps an Indian could clarify?

Not true, I've seen many Indians in England holding dual nationalities.

 

[Mamoon]

Pakistan's passport today is as valuable as a used toothpick, and its only going to get worse.

 

[Yossarian]

Nope. While I am not aware of the 'law' in particular, I know folks holding both American and Indian passports.

Not true, I've seen many Indians in England holding dual nationalities.

From the U.S. Embassy website, New Delhi.

The Indian government's Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) and Person of Indian Origin (PIO) programs are often incorrectly described as offering "dual nationality" or "dual citizenship." This is not true, as India does not recognize dual citizenship. The OCI and PIO programs do offer card holders some travel and residency privileges. Read more about the OCI/PIO programs and dual nationality here:

http://newdelhi.usembassy.gov/acsdualnation.html

[MENTION=132715]Varun[/MENTION], either, as an Indian, you need further knowledge of Indian laws regarding Indian citizenship, or the U.S. Embassy is posting false information on it's website. I tend to think it's the former.

 

[nish_mate]

Not true, I've seen many Indians in England holding dual nationalities.

Illegally- Indian law does not allow dual nationality and rightly so

 

[nish_mate]

Nope. While I am not aware of the 'law' in particular, I know folks holding both American and Indian passports.

It is illegal- you have to surrender your Indian passport once you have acquired another nationality and will be fined everytime you use your Indian passport after having acquired a different nationality.

For obtaining a PIO/OCI card you have to furnish your surrender certificate and that cannot be acquired till you have surrendered your passport.

What many do is "illegally" hold on to their Indian passports- which is a crime under Indian rules.

 

[Little Master]

Pakistan's passport today is as valuable as a used toothpick, and its only going to get worse.

Can't really get worse than this.

 

[DesiMunda]

Not true, I've seen many Indians in England holding dual nationalities.

You don't really get to keep your Indian passport, but you get an OCI (Overseas citizen of India) "card". It looks pretty much like a passport without the extra pages for visas in there. For all intents and purposes, it is exactly like having an Indian passport, but you cannot a) vote, b) hold public office, or c) own agricultural land.

 

[nish_mate]

You don't really get to keep your Indian passport, but you get an OCI (Overseas citizen of India) "card". It looks pretty much like a passport without the extra pages for visas in there. For all intents and purposes, it is exactly like having an Indian passport, but you cannot a) vote, b) hold public office, or c) own agricultural land.

Its an Indian version of Green Card in States and Indefinite Leave to Remain in the UK

 

[Varun]

[MENTION=132715]Varun[/MENTION], either, as an Indian, you need further knowledge of Indian laws regarding Indian citizenship, or the U.S. Embassy is posting false information on it's website. I tend to think it's the former.

Don't care as long as it doesn't affect me directly.

 

[Mamoon]

From the U.S. Embassy website, New Delhi.


[MENTION=132715]Varun[/MENTION], either, as an Indian, you need further knowledge of Indian laws regarding Indian citizenship, or the U.S. Embassy is posting false information on it's website. I tend to think it's the former.

Illegally- Indian law does not allow dual nationality and rightly so

You don't really get to keep your Indian passport, but you get an OCI (Overseas citizen of India) "card". It looks pretty much like a passport without the extra pages for visas in there. For all intents and purposes, it is exactly like having an Indian passport, but you cannot a) vote, b) hold public office, or c) own agricultural land.

Thanks for the info. I guess for an Indian living in the UK with a British passport, voting and holding public office doesn't matter, but agricultural land is likely an issue.

I wonder why so many Indians opt for British passport then, unless they have zero assets back home.

 

[Yossarian]

You don't really get to keep your Indian passport, but you get an OCI (Overseas citizen of India) "card". It looks pretty much like a passport without the extra pages for visas in there. For all intents and purposes, it is exactly like having an Indian passport, but you cannot a) vote, b) hold public office, or c) own agricultural land.

Its an Indian version of Green Card in States and Indefinite Leave to Remain in the UK

Except that Green Card holders and ILR holders are allowed to own land in the UK/USA - even agricultural land. If you're from the Commonwealth and have an ILR, you can even vote in the UK.

 

[nish_mate]

Except that Green Card holders and ILR holders are allowed to own land in the UK/USA - even agricultural land. If you're from the Commonwealth and have an ILR, you can even vote in the UK.

you can buy land in India with OCI/PIO but not agricultural...

Now you are merely splitting hairs- concept and idea is the same- all 3 are essentially life long visas - though ILR is revoked after 2 years of non stay.

 

[nish_mate]

Thanks for the info. I guess for an Indian living in the UK with a British passport, voting and holding public office doesn't matter, but agricultural land is likely an issue.

I wonder why so many Indians opt for British passport then, unless they have zero assets back home.

You are very naive, for every rule in the world there is a work about

 

[Mamoon]

You are very naive, for every rule in the world there is a work about

Of course I know, but I'm talking in legal terms.

 

[nish_mate]

Of course I know, but I'm talking in legal terms.

even in legal terms- Indian law doesnt stop foreginers from having assets in India- just what type of assets- get farmland rezoned to commercial land and bingo you own the land- even though it looks like a farm and runs like a farm and smells like a farm

 

[Mamoon]

even in legal terms- Indian law doesnt stop foreginers from having assets in India- just what type of assets- get farmland rezoned to commercial land and bingo you own the land- even though it looks like a farm and runs like a farm and smells like a farm

If you have to give up your passport then I don't think its worth it.

 

[nish_mate]

If you have to give up your passport then I don't think its worth it.

a lot of folks cant wait to get rid of it- seen quite a few of them happily brandishing their maroon passports at the airport, thinking they are royalty.

 

[KeyboardWarrior]

[MENTION=74271]O[/MENTION]P,
don't be ungrateful, atleast we have a country,
Look at the Iraq, whats left thre ?

 

[Yossarian]

you can buy land in India with OCI/PIO but not agricultural...

Now you are merely splitting hairs- concept and idea is the same- all 3 are essentially life long visas - though ILR is revoked after 2 years of non stay.

Nevertheless,fully fledged nationalities and passports of two or more countries (yes, it's perfectly feasible to have triple, or even more, nationalities and not just dual nationality) are better than one full nationality and some concocted 'special rights card' of another.

There is one drawback however. Someone holding dual, or triple, nationality and visiting/living in one of them will find it difficult to get help from the Embassy(s) of his other nationalities since, effectively, whilst he is in one of his nationality countries, he is a national of that country.

 

[nish_mate]

Nevertheless,fully fledged nationalities and passports of two or more countries (yes, it's perfectly feasible to have triple, or even more, nationalities and not just dual nationality) are better than one full nationality and some concocted 'special rights card' of another.

There is one drawback however. Someone holding dual, or triple, nationality and visiting/living in one of them will find it difficult to get help from the Embassy(s) of his other nationalities since, effectively, whilst he is in one of his nationality countries, he is a national of that country.

Depends on which way you look at it, good to be citizen of a few countries yupp sure- equal rights and all that, but then if you in trouble can call upon only one country to help not so good.

Dont know which is better when being in trouble abroad- a citizen of HM's empire or being a citizen of Pakistan??

 

[Yossarian]

even in legal terms- Indian law doesnt stop foreginers from having assets in India- just what type of assets- get farmland rezoned to commercial land and bingo you own the land- even though it looks like a farm and runs like a farm and smells like a farm

Pressmably by 'commercial land' you mean land that can be used for development/ building houses/ factories etc? and not 'commercial farmland' which is essentially agricultural land but run as a large business enterprise,? In which case, I doubt converting it from 'agricultural' to 'commercial' is quite as simple as you're making out. Otherwise, in parts of Indian Punjab, there should be huge areas with virtually no 'farmland' as far as the eye could see and yet large crops being cultivated on 'commercial land' - besides, in most parts of the world, commercial land prices are far higher than agricultural land.

 

[Yossarian]

Depends on which way you look at it, good to be citizen of a few countries yupp sure- equal rights and all that, but then if you in trouble can call upon only one country to help not so good.

Dont know which is better when being in trouble abroad- a citizen of HM's empire or being a citizen of Pakistan??

Why would you need help from 'another country' when you are in your 'home country'?

As for multiple nationalities, it's nice to be able to choose which passports to show depending upon where you are going. For example, a colleague I worked with when working/living in Saudi Arabia years ago, and who had dual British/Irish nationality, used to regularly visit relatives in Israel, by flying from Saudi to Cyprus on his British Passport, and then using his Irish passport to enter/leave Israel, thus circumventing the issue of an Israel stamp on his British passport which would have debarred him from entering Saudi Arabia. (As I understand, things have changed, and the Israeli's don't stamp passports anymore due to these issues)

 

[Theo_14]

Some of my family members have the green passport - the treatment they get when going to Hajj is truly shocking and saddening. I have a EU passport despite living in UK, I have no reasons to change it to British passport.

 

[MenInG]

ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed announced on Tuesday that Prime Minister Imran Khan will launch the e-passport service on Wednesday (today).

An electronic chip would be used in the new biometric passport, the federal minister said on his Twitter handle and informed that 29 latest new security features have been added to the e-passport.

It would be the biggest up-gradation of Pakistani travel documents since 2004, he added.

The minister said the e-passport holder would take benefit from the e-gate facility at all airports around the world.

Initially, an e-passport facility would be available for diplomatic and government officials, he added.

An e-passport is a highly secure travel document with an embedded microchip containing biometric information about the holder.

With the launch of the service, the country would become one of the many countries to have an electronic passport system, boosting security and smooth international travel.

 

[FearlessRoar]

Govt to procure new printing machines to resolve passport crisis​

The government has decided to procure new printing machines for passports, which is expected to alleviate the ongoing crisis.

According to Express News, the delay in passport issuance across the country is nearing resolution, as the government has expedited efforts to address the passport crisis.

The decision to acquire additional machines for printing passports has been made, with the Directorate General of Passports and Immigration preparing a requisition and sending it to the Ministry of Interior. It is anticipated that the new machines will be imported by September.

Passport officials have indicated that the new equipment will include six desktop printers and two e-passport machines. These new machines are capable of printing up to 1,000 passports per hour.

It is worth noting that the passport issuance process has been delayed for the past year due to a shortage of paper and the limited capacity of existing machinery, causing significant inconvenience for citizens.

Govt to procure new printing machines to resolve passport crisis | The Express Tribune

Passport issuance has seen delays due to shortage of paper, limited capacity of existing machinery

tribune.com.pk

 

[FearlessRoar]

Passport backlog: New printing machines to get operational soon

All machines will be operational by next week, the sources said and added that these new desktop machines will double the current printing capacity.

According to the sources, around 22,000 passports are printed on daily basis and the capacity will be doubled by the next week.

Around 50,000 applications are received daily for new or renewal of passports from across the country, the sources added.

Earlier, the issue of delay in Pakistani passport issuance echoed in the National Assembly.

Responding to Pakistan People’s Party’s Aga Rafiullah’s call attention notice, Minister for Law and Justice Azam Nazir Tarar said the government is working to speed up the issuance process of passports.

He said the daily demand for Pakistani passports has reached 44,000 while only 25,000 to 26,000 passports are being published.

Passport backlog: New printing machines to get operational soon

ISLAMABAD: The passport printing delay issue is expected to be resolved as 10 state-of-the-art desktop passport printing machines have arrived from

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