RAWALPINDI: Pakistan on Monday announced that it had extended travel rest­r­i­­ctions on UK passengers till Jan 31 to prevent the spread of a new strain of Covid-19 virus in the country.

On Monday last, travel restrictions were imposed on UK passengers till Jan 4 after the emergence of the new strain that was spreading rapidly in England. The measure was intended to restrict the spread of the coronavirus variant in Pakistan.

The restrictions will be effective from Tuesday (today) for all Pakistani nationals with short-term UK and South African visit visas and Pakistanis holding work permits. Under the curbs, these Pakistani nationals would have to follow SOPs and produce a negative PCR test result conducted within 72 hours prior to their travel to Pakistan.

Diplomats and their families may also travel to Pakistan from the UK and South Africa after a negative PCR test result conducted within 72 hours prior to their travel to Pakistan. However, they and their families will be subjected to PCR test upon arrival and quarantine/isolation within their respective embassies/high commissions for a time period as specified by relevant health authorities.

The Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) said that exemptions provided to diplomats and Overseas Pakistanis holding valid NICOP or Pakistan Origin Card for having stayed in the UK or South Africa for over the last 10 days prior to travel, would continue and new restrictions for them would be effective from Jan 9 to Jan 31.

Published in Dawn, January 5th, 2021