RAWALPINDI: Pakistan has extended a travel ban on passengers from countries categorised as ‘C’ until further notice whereas 15 countries have also been added to the category.

The countries that have been added to the category ‘C’ are: Indonesia, Philippines, Iraq, Slovenia, Namibia, Croatia, Netherlands, Iran, Ethiopia, Bangladesh, Poland, Cuba, Thailand, Czechia and Dominican Republic. Total number of countries in the category are 38.

A spokesman for Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority, Saad Bin Ayub, said the travel ban on inbound travellers will remain till further order.

He said international travellers from any country are required to possess valid negative PCR test certification conducted 72 hours prior to commencement of travel to Pakistan. All inbound passengers will have to go through Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) on arrival at all airports.

“The travel restrictions on inbound travel to Pakistan from category ‘C’ countries will also continue to remain effective until further order,” the spokesman said, adding international travel to Pakistan from 38 category ‘C’ countries was only allowed to be subjected to exemption by a committee as per procedures.

Pakistan had introduced stricter travel bans on 24 countries and restrictions for inbound travellers amid rise in Covid-19 cases involving new variants. The CAA, earlier had extended travel restrictions till March 20 and then April 30, 2021to halt potential spread of the virus.

Upon observing a surge in Covid-19 cases in India, the federal government announced on April 19 that India had been placed in category ‘C’ and all inbound chartered and private aircraft flights to Pakistan were banned.

Published in Dawn, May 24th, 2021