ISLAMABAD: India announced on Friday that it was extending till February 14, 2014, a deadline after which it would be mandatory for all travelers from Pakistan to carry polio vaccination certificates .
According to a statement released by the Indian High Commission in Islamabad on Friday, it said that all persons – adults and children – traveling to India from Pakistan are required to obtain an Oral Polio Vaccination (OPV) certification at least six weeks prior to their departure to India, but not more than one year before such departure.
The previous deadline was January 30, 2014.
Travelers from Pakistan, even Indian nationals on visit to Pakistan, would be required to carry their vaccination record as evidence of polio vaccination upon entry into India.
Record for administering OPV can be obtained from an authorised medical centre in the format laid out in the World Health Organisation’s International Health Regulations 2005 International Certification of Vaccination. The format of the certificate required is also available on the website of the High Commission of India.
The Indian mission explained that the step is being taken to safeguard India’s polio-free status attained after sustained after efforts and large investment. It further clarified that the measure was applicable to all travelers from all such countries where polio is endemic or where cases of polio are reported.
Despite efforts by the government, Pakistan reported 85 confirmed cases of polio during 2013, raising concerns about the fight against the disease.
COMMENTS (16)
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@Lololol: Indeed. People who can not afford expensive medical treatment in US or Europe go to India to get the best of the treatment for a lesser price. People from countries in Africa and like Pakistan go to India because the treatment back home is not available at all. So you see, people around the world do have a reason to visit India. On the other hand if some one is fugitive and looking for a "safe" place to hide might go to Pakistan. You know what I mean right?
@ Peace : “……… and Pakistan requires AIDS test for all the Indian visitors. Period.”
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No Period at all …………… When Pakistan manages to eradicate HIV AIDS, just as India has now done with Polio, Pakistan is most welcome to require visiting Indian’s to conduct tests for HIV AIDS if that disease has at that time not been eradicated in India.
Why are Pakistanis defensive about this? Why don't they stand up and say that polio vaccination and thus eradication is absolutely necessary and no opposition will be acceptable ? After all the prevalence of polio puts all Pakistanis at risk.
@BruteForce: Immigration to INDIA??? Pls dont make us laugh all the time
Country full of slums, people sleeping on streets while rich flaunting their wealth. Who wants to go to india for other than cheap medical care???
Polio is a great excuse for countries to cut down low skilled immigration from Pakistan. Not only is it true, but will serve other purposes as well.
@Altafyo:
According to provisional statistics 6.29 million foreign tourists arrived in India in 2011, an increase of 8.9% from 5.78 million in 2010
India has the third rank among countries with the fastest growing tourism industries over the next decade. India has a large medical tourism sector which is expected to grow at an estimated rate of 30% annually to reach about 95 billion by 2015.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TourisminIndia
How many people wants to visit Pakistan ? Just curious to know.
I am for polio vaccination. Pakistani govt should make it compulsory for people going abroad to have this vaccination done. On the other hand , except for few business people, I do not see the need for people to go to India.
@Peace: Well, only the relatives of Pakistanis who had remained in India visit Pakistan, so your rant won't make any difference. Soon all countries will demand polio vaccination certificate from Pakistani visitors.
@Altafyo:
If you fail to understand who goes to India, then you fail to understand what goes on in the outside world. For visitors, both of the business and touristy kind, Pakistan today has nothing much to offer given the security situation, terrorism and other issues there. Hope you have the capacity to understand at least these basic facts.
Fail to understand, who goes to INDIA out of all 160+ countries on earth other than Sharif bros & Altaf bhai???
Indian standards, only Indians understand :)
Thank you India! Peace between our brotherly nations.
Why such leniency ?? I can't understand .. I mean there lakhs of volunteers who worked India to eradicate polio. Even when I was in college I went with my friends to near by village to tell the importance of polio. We can't ease such rule's.
......... and Pakistan requires AIDS test for all the Indian visitors. Period. Peace