Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, while responding to questions in the National Assembly, said that Pakistan’s passport has seen a significant rise in its international ranking and is now among the 100 best passports in the world.
The Minister explained that this achievement is the result of reforms and technical advancements introduced by the Directorate General of Immigration and Passports.
Dr. Tariq Fazal added that by August 5, 2025, Pakistan has signed visa exemption agreements with 50 countries for diplomatic and official passport holders, and negotiations with several other nations are underway.
He said that the Directorate General has introduced a modern e-passport personalization system and enhanced the security features of Machine Readable Passports (MRPs) to prevent forgery and misuse.
According to the Minister, Pakistan is gradually transitioning to e-passports that meet the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards. With this upgrade, citizens will be able to use e-gate facilities at both domestic and international airports.
The new e-passport includes a biometric microchip, a polycarbonate data page, laser-engraved information, and visa pages reflecting Pakistani culture. Additionally, the passport now includes the mother’s name on children’s passports.
The Minister stated that these reforms have strengthened Pakistan’s international reputation and improved its global passport ranking.
He also noted that Pakistan’s relations with Islamic and friendly countries have improved, and the country’s efforts have been widely appreciated.
Dr. Tariq Fazal expressed confidence that these technological upgrades and diplomatic initiatives will continue to enhance the global recognition and prestige of Pakistan’s passport.
