CAA notifies ban on Indian travellers

Includes country in Category ‘C’ countries

ISLAMABAD:

Pakistan has banned travellers from India due to a sharp increase in Covid-19 cases over there.

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) on Tuesday issued a new travel guide in which it included India in the list of Category ‘C’ countries in the wake of the third dangerous wave of the coronavirus and extended restrictions till April 24.

According to the new travel guidelines issued by the CAA Director Air Traffic Irfan Sabir, “With the latest inclusion of India in the list, the number of countries in Category C have reached 23.”

“In the notification, I extended the travel restrictions imposed on Category C countries till April 24, while India was included in the list due to the deteriorating situation of the coronavirus and steady increase in cases,” Sabir said.

In Category ‘C’, travel restrictions were extended to 23 countries, including South Africa, Brazil, Zimbabwe, India, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda and Mozambique, making the arrival of travellers from these countries subject to the permission of the National Command and Operation Centre.

“Without a no-objection certificate, a complete ban will be imposed on the arrival of passengers from Category ‘C’ countries in Pakistan,” the CAA notification stated. “Pakistani passport, National Identity Card for Oversees Pakistanis and Pakistan Origin Card holders in these countries will not be able to return home.”

On the other hand, the number of Category ‘A’ countries has been increased to 20.

Passengers from other countries, including Australia, Bhutan, China, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Singapore and Sri Lanka, are not required to undergo the coronavirus test.

Similarly, the duration of PCR test for Category ‘B’ passengers will be 72 hours.