ISLAMABAD: The Pakistani passport continues to be the fourth-worst in the world, not changing its position from a year ago and providing access to only 32 destinations, according to the Henley Passport Index for 2022.

The Henley Passport Index is a ranking of all the world’s 199 passports according to the number of destinations their holders can access without a prior visa, Dawn.com reported on Wednesday.

The ranking is based on data from the International Air Transport As­­s­ociation, which maintains the wor­ld’s largest database of travel information, and it is enhanced by extensive, ongoing research by the Henley & Partners Research Department.

In the newly-unveiled ranking, Pak­istan is ranked only higher than conflict-ravaged Syria, Iraq and Afgha­nis­tan, which occupies the bottom spot.

‘Passport Fee Asaan’ app launched to facilitate e-payment

The top spot has been taken by Japan, with the country’s passport providing its holders access to 193 destinations. Next in line are Singapore and South Korea, whose passports provide access to 192 countries, followed by Germany and Spain, with their passports having a visa-free score of 190.

Among other countries from Asia, India, along with Mauritius and Tajikistan, has been ranked 87th, with its passport providing access to 67 countries. China ties with Bolivia for the 69th spot, with each of their passports allowing access to 80 destinations.

As for Bangladesh, it occupies the 104th position — five spots higher than Pakistan — with its passport holders having access to 41 countries.

App for passport fee

Meanwhile, the interior ministry has launched the ‘Passport Fee Asa­an’ — an online application to help users in the calculation and payment of passport fees. The application would allow users among other things to generate a challan for the payment of the fee which could be paid through ATM, online banking, or 1-link member bank branches. The app also contains a complaint resolution mechanism to facilitate users in case of reservations.

Currently, the e-payment facility for the calculation and payment of passport fees is in a testing phase and available in Islamabad only. The nationwide services would be exte­nded within a period of six months.

Initially, the application was meant for phone users but in the final presentation, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah directed the department concerned to add the website feature to it as well.

The app was developed after PM’s Strategic Reforms Unit head Salman Sufi pointed out that a large number of applicants have to queue in banks to deposit the fee for the passport.

“We are working on adding more features to help different-abled citizens as it is difficult for them to visit the respective offices for renewal of their passports,” Salman Sufi told Dawn.

He said that the reforms unit was also working on the integration of the app to digitise immigration checks at airports and added that around 30,000 citizens will be able to take advantage of this application.

Kalbe Ali also contributed to this report

Published in Dawn, July 21st, 2022