Govt issues detailed SOPs for foreign visitors including mandatory Covid test

Visitors can provide 'travellers contact information' via Pass Track Application to speed up process

The National Health Ministry has issued standard operating procedures (SOPs) for international travellers entering Pakistan in a bid to curb the spread of Covid-19, which include mandatory test for the novel coronavirus.

According to information available on the ministry's website, the international travellers will be required to provide negative Covid-19 (RT-PCR) test “that has to be taken within 96 hours of the travel date”.

The new measures which will be effective from October 5 also asked visitors to provide traveller contact information through — The PassTrack mobile app or an accessible web-based form.

The official website said the mobile app will speed up arrival process in Pakistan and visitors will have to spend less time with immigration and public health officers.

The mobile app will enable the travellers to provide the authorities voluntary updates and the development of any virus symptoms during the 14 days after arriving in Pakistan.

However, a total of 36 countries have been exempted from mandatory Covid-19 testing which include China, Turkey, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Canada among others.

The list of countries will be updated on a fortnightly basis by the federal health ministry “based on disease burden of Covid-19”.

“This list will be next reviewed on 8th October,” the statement on website added.