RAWALPINDI: The Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) on Friday issued guidelines for inbound travellers to and from Pakistan as well as domestic travellers.

The guidelines will take effect immediately.

Under the guidelines, only fully vaccinated passengers aged 12 years and above will be allowed to undertake international air travel to Pakistan.

The Pakistani deportees, passengers (Pakistani and foreigners) with valid medical reasons for exemption of vaccination issued by a doctor (certificate from classified specialist) will be exempted.

In addition, Pakistani passengers less than 12 years of age, foreigners, foreign passport holders less than 18 years of age and passengers who travelled outbound from Pakistan before Oct 1, 2021, whereby such passengers travelling through connecting flights after entering Pakistan, would be allowed to continue their domestic travel.

Passengers between 12 and 18 years of age may travel to Pakistan without proof of Covid-19 vaccination up to April 30, 2022.

The CAA said that any non-vaccinated passenger aged 12 years or above traveling to Pakistan and fulfilling any criteria above (except for deportees) would be required to possess a negative PCR test result conducted within 72 hours prior to commencement of travel to Pakistan.

Partial or non-vaccinated passengers not fulfilling any pre-defined criteria listed above and seeking exemptions from vaccination pre-departure PCR testing may apply through the Pakistani High Commission concerned to the exemption committee for inbound travel to Pakistan.

Deportees will be tested on arrival through Rapid Antigen Testing and positive cases will be home-quarantined for 10 days.

All passengers travelling to Pakistan will be required to submit requisite data through Pass Track App or web portal prior to departure for Pakistan.

It said only fully vaccinated passengers aged 15 years and above will be allowed to undertake domestic air travel within Pakistan.

Additionally, mask-wearing will not be mandatory on domestic air travel within Pakistan.

Notwith­standing, passengers are encouraged to wear face masks in closed spaces such as aircraft cabins or passenger terminals for their protection.

Passengers showing any Covid-related symptom will, however, be required to wear a face mask while undertaking air travel.

If a passenger exhibits symptoms of Covid-19 during the flight, he or she will be subjected to isolation by the airline crew accordingly.

In-flight public announcements relating to Covid-19 will also not be required to be made by Pakistani airline operators.

The Civil Aviation Authority said that this was also to note that any additional Covid-19 stipulation mandated by any other country for passengers wishing to undertake international travel to and from Pakistan will also be complied with by passengers.

All other relevant standard operating procedures issued by this office from time to time will cease to take effect.

Published in Dawn, April 2nd, 2022