Abdul Basit: Overseas Pakistanis especially labour class in the UAE is not happy with the decision of Pakistan government for a prior negative test of COVID-19 before travelling to Pakistan and says it’s an additional financial burden.
The test costs Dh150, and there is another fee of Dh70 for getting a ‘COVID-19 Clearance Certificate’ which is needed for travellers.
Ten days ago, the Government of Pakistan had announced that travellers from the UAE and other Gulf countries, excluding Saudi Arabia, to Pakistan would need a negative Covid-19 test result from October 5.
It is mentioned that passengers will need to take the test within 96 hours of the travel date. It is added that those aged less than 12 years, travellers with special needs and high-level international delegations are exempt from this requirement.
Pakistan government has also made it mandatory for the inbound international passengers to download the PassTrack mobile app and also undergo a health screening at the time of arriving at any Pakistan airport.
It is also advised that travel information needs to be submitted via the app 48 hours before arrival in Pakistan. Travellers will need to submit this information for airlines to issue their boarding passes. Airlines’ crew members are also not exempt and they have to submit this information as well.
Pakistan government has exempted travellers from 38 countries from the need to have a negative coronavirus test. Some countries on the list include Australia, Canada, China, Germany, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Norway, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Thailand and Turkey, among others.
In the latest move on October 7, Pakistan government had announced that travelers coming for the United Kingdom (UK) to Pakistan would also submit a COVID-19 negative test. It was announced by Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development Sayed Zulfikar Abbas Bukhari.
Mr. Bukhari tweeted that all those intending to come to Pakistan from the UK have to submit COVID-19 as this is the Government of Pakistan’s policy.
Zulfi Bukhari mentioned that coronavirus tests from all the verified sources would be admissible. He also made it clear that there is no compulsion from where to get those tests done.
The Government of Pakistan has specified some safety protocols for international passengers. Airline’s cabin crew members are also required to provide hand sanitisers every hour during the flight to each passenger. It is also stated that all travellers are required to wear face masks throughout the duration of the flight except during food times. The masks shall be provided by the airline at the check-in counters of the airport if the passengers do not have their own.
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