To curb the spread of the novel coronavirus, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has extended travel restrictions and imposed a temporary ban on all inbound travelers including chartered and private flights, Gulf News reported.
As per details, the aviation authority said that restrictions are being implemented to curb the spread of Covid-19. The new rules will come into effect from April 6 and will continue until April 20.
Meanwhile, the CAA issued a list of countries with 20 countries placed in category A. It also increased the number of countries in category C from 12 to 22 due to the spread of the new variant of Covid-19 in these countries. The countries in list C are those where the South African and UK strain is on the rise.
Read More: Pakistan added to England’s travel ‘red list’
The 20 countries in category A that do not require COVID-19 test before entry into Pakistan are Australia, Bhutan, China, Fiji, Japan, Kazakhstan, Laos, Mongolia, Mauritania, Morocco, Myanmar, New Zealand, Nepal, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Tajikistan, Trinidad and Tobago, and Vietnam.
The countries placed in category C include South Africa, Brazil, Botswana, Kenya, Comoros, Mozambique, Zambia, Tanzania, Rwanda, Peru, Colombia, Chile, Eswatini, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Malawi, Seychelles, Somalia, Suriname, Uruguay, and Venezuela.
According to the previous notification effective from March 23 to April 5, there was a complete ban on inbound travel for category C countries.
International travelers from countries not specified in category A required a Covid-19 PCR test (max 72 hours old) before traveling to Pakistan.
The coronavirus positivity ratio in the country reached its highest level of more than 10 percent. Thus, this new restriction by CAA is welcomed.
In view of the surge in coronavirus cases in the country, the NCOC imposed more restrictions to curb the spread of COVID-19 cases in the country. Planning Minister Asad Umar has said that the federal government will impose ‘tough decisions’ in wake of the coronavirus pandemic situation in the country.
The government has advised people to follow SOPs and take precautionary measures as Pakistan is currently experiencing the third wave of coronavirus which the health officials say is more deadly and more viral than the previous ones.
It must be remembered that Pakistan remained safe during the second wave via better implementation of policies. However, recently even the Premier himself and the President of the country have contracted the virus.
Read More: COVID-19 3rd wave: Pakistan’s positivity rate crosses 10%
For further information, people wishing to travel can always check the NCOC website.