Federal Minister for Planning and Development, Asad Umar, reacts to the UK putting Pakistan in the ‘rest of the world list’ and not accepting Chinese covid-19 vaccines.
In a tweet, Asad Umar questioned the UK for changing its travel advisory. Umar wrote on Twitter: “[The] UK decides gora certificates [and] vaccines are okay but most non-gora vaccine certificates [and] Chinese vaccines are not. This despite widespread evidence of fake certificates in [the] US [and] Europe.”
The minister in the tweet added that the Chinese vaccines are approved by World Health Organization.
UK decides gora certificates & vaccines are ok but most non gora vaccine certificates & chinese vaccines are not. This despite widespread evidence of fake certificates in US & Europe. Chinese vaccines are WHO approved. Health considerations or hangover of a colonial mindset? pic.twitter.com/j2TQTY8gVn
— Asad Umar (@Asad_Umar) October 7, 2021
“Health considerations or hangover of a colonial mindset?” Umar raised the question as the UK government decided not to include Chinese vaccines in its list of UK-approved vaccines.
Read more: Pakistan refuses Home Office Charter flights from the UK
On Wednesday, UK had moved Pakistan to the list of the ‘rest of the world’ which implies that Pakistan is on the list of the countries whose covid-19 vaccine certificates are not accepted in the UK.
In September, Pakistan came off the UK red list along with eight countries and territories.
Dominic Raab while addressing the press conference in Islamabad on 3rd September 2021 with Foreign Minister of Pakistan Shah Mehmood Qureshi has said that he wanted Pakistan removed from the Government’s red list for travel restrictions.
The foreign secretary told a press conference in the country that the UK understands “this is a sensitive issue”.
Read more: Pakistan off UK red list after six months
Pakistan was put on the red list on April 9 due to concerns about the risk of travelers importing new variants of coronavirus into the UK.
Mr. Raab said: “We base our decision on the technical evidence, the scientific basis.
“I understand that is often contested, which is all the more reason why it’s good that the Pakistan special adviser to PM (Imran) Khan will be holding expert-level talks with UK public health authorities.
Pakistan was first added to the list – from where anyone arriving in the UK must quarantine in a designated hotel for 10 days – in early April, due to concerns over the Delta variant of Covid-19. The policy meant arrivals from red list locations must spend 11 nights in a quarantined hotel, costing £2,285 for solo travelers.