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Pakistani passport remains 4th worst globally

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KARACHI: The Pakistani passport remains the fourth worst around the world in the new year as well with no improvement seen in its position for at least the last five years, The News reported on Thursday.

The passport has been ranked the fourth worst, following its declining trend from July last year, as per data from UK-based citizenship and residence advisory firm Henley and Partners, which ranks 199 nations on its index.

The country’s passport ranks 101st (out of 104) on the Henley Passport Index with a score of 34, according to the firm’s Global Mobility Report 2024. This means that citizens with an ordinary Pakistani passport can have visa-free access to only 34 out of 227 destinations included in the index.

Around 199 passports have been analysed for the ranking which is based on the number of countries and territories (destinations) passport holders can access without a prior visa. The index is based on data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

This year, the top slot for the world’s strong passport is occupied by six countries — France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and Singapore, which have ranked first on the index with a score of 194. In 2023, the first and second spots were occupied by Singapore and Japan respectively. For France, Germany and Italy, the first position translates into a significant two-spot jump; the three countries shared the third spot with four other countries last year.

Three countries are tied in the second spot with a score of 193 — Finland, South Korea and Sweden. The third spot is shared by four countries with a score of 192: Austria, Denmark, Ireland, and the Netherlands.

Afghanistan continues to occupy the slot for the world’s worst passport with its citizens enjoying visa-free entry to only 28 destinations. The second- and third-worst countries are Syria and Iraq, providing access to 29 and 31 destinations respectively.

Even though other South Asian countries have performed better than Pakistan, their overall ranking remains low. Bangladesh ranks 97, with visa-free access to 42 destinations. Sri Lanka is only one spot ahead — at 96 with a score of 45. Nepal comes at the 98th spot with a score of 40. Only India has performed better in the South Asian region and enjoys the 80th spot with a score of 62.

The Pakistani passport gives visa-free access only to the following destinations: Barbados, Burundi, Cambodian, Cape Verde Islands, Comoro Islands, Cook Islands, Djibouti, Dominica, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Kenya, Madagascar, Maldives, Micronesia, Montserrat, Mozambique, Nepal, Niue, Palau Islands, Qatar, Rwanda, Samoa, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sri Lanka, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu.

In a statement issued by the firm, Chairperson of Henley and Partners Dr Christian H Kaelin said that “although the general trend over the history of the 19-year-old ranking has been towards greater travel freedom, the global mobility gap between those at the top and bottom of the index is now wider than ever.”

“The average number of destinations travellers are able to access visa-free has nearly doubled from 58 in 2006 to 111 in 2024,” he adds. This means that “the top-ranked countries are now able to travel to a staggering 166 more destinations visa-free than Afghanistan, which sits at the bottom of the ranking with access to just 28 countries without a visa.”

Experts also point to the growing use of technology to perform travel-related tasks. IATA Senior Vice President Commercial Products and Services Frederic Leger says that “with passenger traffic set to double by 2040, the optimization and enhancement of airport processes will need to continue. Checking and verifying travel documents needs to be automated to a much higher degree. Passengers have clearly communicated that they are willing to share their data in advance of travel to achieve this goal.”

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Session of the National Assembly: Government Prioritising Youth Skill Development: Ch Salik Hussain

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The National Assembly was informed that the government is concentrating on developing the skills of young people in order to meet the demand for skilled workers in other countries. To this end, the government has inked agreements with several countries.

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PTA provides a significant update on Pakistan’s Starlink launch.

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Starlink applied for a license on February 24, 2022, and is currently in communication with the new regulatory body, according to a briefing given to the National Assembly Standing Committee on IT, which was chaired by Senator Palwasha Khan, the PTA Chairman.

Starlink needs to register with both the PSB and the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) before to starting its satellite services in Pakistan. According to the PTA Chairman, the body will proceed with further actions after the registration procedure is over.

Along with Starlink, Shanghai Space Technology is also making its debut in Pakistan, which should boost internet access and spur technical advancement in the nation.

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has also made it plain that until it has government approval, it is unable to grant a license to Elon Musk’s satellite internet service, Starlink.

The chairman stated that Starlink has promised to adhere to government regulations and not circumvent the system.

The committee also chose to call a meeting of the Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) to take up the topic of space technology regulation. Additionally, the committee asked why the PTA is assigning its duties to other groups.

Prior to the launch of Starlink in Pakistan, Elon Musk, the CEO of SPACEX, stated that he was seeking permission from the Pakistani government.

According to information, Pakistani social media user Sanam Jamali and Elon Musk had a discussion on the launch of Starlink in Pakistan on the social media site X (previously Twitter).

Sanam asked Musk to launch Starlink in Pakistan, claiming that it might open the door to a better future by giving people access to the internet and chances to advance.

In response, Musk said that he is awaiting Pakistani official approval to introduce Starlink there. Through a massive network of satellites, SpaceX’s Starlink offers internet services.

Starlink

SpaceX, a private aircraft manufacturer and space transport services provider established by Elon Musk, is the developer of the Starlink satellite internet network. The constellation uses a network of thousands of tiny satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO) to deliver fast, dependable, and worldwide internet connectivity.

The way we access the internet could be completely changed by this cutting-edge technology, particularly in isolated and underdeveloped locations where conventional fiber-optic and cellular networks are scarce or nonexistent.

High-speed internet access with latency as low as 20 ms is what the Starlink constellation is intended to provide; this is on par with or even better than many current fiber-optic networks.

Every Starlink satellite includes a phased array antenna, which enables it to connect with numerous users at once, offering a flexible and high-capacity network. Fast and dependable internet connection is available to users from almost anywhere in the world with Starlink, which is an exciting advancement for digital inclusion and global connectedness.

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The government has dismissed the PTI’s request for a judicial panel probing the violence on May 9.

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The federal government’s negotiation team has completed a comprehensive written reply to the demands put out by PTI.

The statement addresses all points presented by PTI, including the rejection to establish a judicial panel for the events of May 9.

The administration highlighted that judicial commissions are constituted for issues not subject to judicial review, and cases pertaining to May 9 are currently being adjudicated in courts, with certain persons having been condemned by military tribunals.

PTI has consented to engage in negotiations with the Prime Minister’s committee. An in-camera session has been arranged at Parliament House to further deliberate on the topic.

The letter response requests comprehensive lists of missing persons and arrested individuals from PTI, inquiring how measures for their release may be implemented without adequate information. Furthermore, PTI’s assertions concerning fatalities during protests necessitate corroborative data.

The government committee intends to deliver the written response to National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq in the imminent future. The Speaker will determine whether to convene the fourth round of discussions upon receipt of the response.

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