BEIJING - Japan has topped the list featuring world's most powerful passports, in a visible indication of country's global supremacy and strength.
The latest index has been released by Henley Passport (Henley & Partners’ research team) and is based on exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
The passport index has been released according to the number of destinations their holders can access without a prior visa. As far as Japan is concerned, its citizens have visa-free access to 98 per cent of the global economy.
Japan's passport has the facility of visa-free/visa-on-arrival for 193 destinations. It is followed by South Korea and Singapore sharing second rank at 192 while Germany and Spain jointly hold third spot at 190.
The UK and the US secured sixth and seventh slot, with scores of 187 and 186 respectively, which the index says are both “increasingly unlikely to ever regain the top spot”. It is interesting to note that both the countries held first place in 2014.
At the bottom of the list is Afghanistan, with a visa-free score of 29, and Syria at 30. Pakistan is at 106 out of 109 spots in the world with a visa free score of 32 while India ranks at 85th spot with 59 destinations available to the citizens visa free.
The rankings come as global travel reaches 75 per cent of pre-pandemic levels and the travel industry has branded the surge in post-Covid tourism as 'revenge travel'.
UAE has gained 15th spot on the list as its passport holders can access 178 out of 227 countries without a prior visa. The report singled out UAE as a 'great success story' as the Emirate made a rapid rapid progress in the index and climbed 49 spots over the past 10 years. Qatar is currently ranked at 55 with a score of 100, and Kuwait stands at 57 with a score of 97.
The latest index confirms that economic prowess and passport strength are intertwined as passport holders of economically strong countries have greater access across the world.
The study also highlights that only 6 per cent of passports worldwide give their holders visa-free access to more than 70 per cent of the global economy.
Another interesting aspect is the fact that both Ukraine and Russia retained their positions in the index since the war broke out, at 36th and 49th spot respectively.
Here is the list of the most powerful passports in the world:
1 Japan
2 Singapore and South Korea
3 Germany and Spain
4 Finland, Italy and Luxembourg
5 Austria, Denmark, Netherlands and Sweden
6 France, Ireland, Portugal and the UK
7 Belgium, Czech Republic, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland and the US
8 Australia, Canada, Malta and Greece
9 Hungary and Poland
10 Lithuania and Slovakia
11 Latvia and Slovenia
12 Estonia
13 Iceland
14 Malaysia
15 Liechtenstein and the UAE
Daily Pakistan Global Web Desk
KARACHI - Following are the foreign currency exchange rates for US Dollar, Saudi Riyal, UK Pound Sterling, U.A.E. Dirham, European Euro, and other foreign currencies in Pakistan open market on March 31, 2023 (Friday).
Source: Forex Association of Pakistan. (last update 09:00 AM)
Currency | Symbol | Buying | Selling |
US Dollar | USD | 283.8 | 286.6 |
Euro | EUR | 306 | 309 |
UK Pound Sterling | GBP | 347.5 | 351 |
U.A.E Dirham | AED | 77.2 | 79.9 |
Saudi Riyal | SAR | 75.6 | 76.4 |
Australian Dollar | AUD | 187.5 | 189.9 |
Bahrain Dinar | BHD | 753.99 | 761.99 |
Canadian Dollar | CAD | 206.5 | 208.7 |
China Yuan | CNY | 41.25 | 41.65 |
Danish Krone | DKK | 41.26 | 41.51 |
Hong Kong Dollar | HKD | 36.11 | 36.46 |
Indian Rupee | INR | 3.45 | 3.56 |
Japanese Yen | JPY | 2.15 | 2.22 |
Kuwaiti Dinar | KWD | 925.67 | 934.67 |
Malaysian Ringgit | MYR | 62.85 | 63.45 |
New Zealand Dollar | NZD | 175.57 | 177.58 |
Norwegians Krone | NOK | 26.33 | 26.63 |
Omani Riyal | OMR | 736.34 | 744.35 |
Qatari Riyal | QAR | 77.92 | 78.62 |
Singapore Dollar | SGD | 209.5 | 211.5 |
Swedish Korona | SEK | 26.5 | 26.8 |
Swiss Franc | CHF | 308.25 | 310.75 |
Thai Bhat | THB | 8.28 | 8.43 |
KARACHI - The price of a single tola of 24-karat gold in Pakistan is Rs 208,200 on Friday. The price of 10 grams of 24k gold was recorded at Rs178,500.
Likewise, 10 grams of 22k gold were being traded for Rs163,624 while a single tola of 22-karat gold was being sold at Rs 190,849.
Note: The gold rate in Pakistan is fluctuating according to the international market so the price is never been fixed. The below rates are provided by local gold markets and Sarafa Markets of different cities.
City | Gold | Silver |
Lahore | PKR 208,200 | PKR 2,470 |
Karachi | PKR 208,200 | PKR 2,470 |
Islamabad | PKR 208,200 | PKR 2,470 |
Peshawar | PKR 208,200 | PKR 2,470 |
Quetta | PKR 208,200 | PKR 2,470 |
Sialkot | PKR 208,200 | PKR 2,470 |
Attock | PKR 208,200 | PKR 2,470 |
Gujranwala | PKR 208,200 | PKR 2,470 |
Jehlum | PKR 208,200 | PKR 2,470 |
Multan | PKR 208,200 | PKR 2,470 |
Bahawalpur | PKR 208,200 | PKR 2,470 |
Gujrat | PKR 208,200 | PKR 2,470 |
Nawabshah | PKR 208,200 | PKR 2,470 |
Chakwal | PKR 208,200 | PKR 2,470 |
Hyderabad | PKR 208,200 | PKR 2,470 |
Nowshehra | PKR 208,200 | PKR 2,470 |
Sargodha | PKR 208,200 | PKR 2,470 |
Faisalabad | PKR 208,200 | PKR 2,470 |
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