'Two arrested over forged Covid-19 test reports at Peshawar airport'

Second time passengers arrested for producing completely fake test reports, claims senior airport officer

PESHAWAR:

Health officials arrested two people at the Bacha Khan International Airport on Monday for presenting forged Covid-19 test reports.

“We have arrested two people for carrying fake test results and they have been handed over to the police,” a senior officer at the airport told The Express Tribune.

The officer, who requested anonymity since he was not entitled to speak to media, said that this was the second time passengers were arrested for producing completely forged Covid-19 reports.

The officer said six people, travelling to different states in the United Arab Emirates from different flights, were arrested for the same crime two days ago.

“They had boarded the plane and were evacuated, and later handed over to the Federal Investigation Agency for further interrogation,” the officer informed.

Officials at the federal government's health department facility, located within the airport, refused to comment when contacted.

Ever since the outbreak of the pandemic in Pakistan, authorities have made presenting negative Covid-19 test results mandatory before boarding a flight.

Fresh travel advisories are issued every now and then, keeping in consideration the Covid-19 situation in countries abroad, for travellers flying in and out.

A day ago, the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) issued a travel advisory for visitors to Saudi Arabia and directed passengers to fill the new health declaration form related to coronavirus pandemic.

A notification was issued by PIA’s Flight Services department, which stated that the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) updated its health disclaimer form for all airlines operating in Saudi Arabia amid the second wave of Covid-19 pandemic.

The national flag carrier ordered the staff to distribute the health declaration form onboard the flight to all passengers arriving at the kingdom with immediate effect.