Covid-19: Saudi Arabia imposes travel ban on Pakistan, other countries

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on Saturday imposed a travel ban on various countries including Pakistan and India amid the growing number of Covid-19 cases.

The kingdom also implemented the ban on the Philippines, Sri Lanka and Indonesia whereas the Saudi Civil Aviation Authority General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) issued a notification imposing a temporary travel ban on European Union (EU) countries and Switzerland.

Saudi residents have been given 72 hours to return to KSA.

On April 23, Canada's government said it would temporarily bar passenger flights from India and Pakistan for 30 days as part of stricter measures to combat the spread of the coronavirus.

The center-left Liberal government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau acted after prominent right-leaning politicians complained Ottawa had not done enough to combat the third wave of infections ripping through Canada.

Read More: Hong Kong bans flights from Pakistan, India and the Philippines for 2 weeks

The ban, which takes effect at 11.30 pm (0330 GMT Friday), does not affect cargo flights.

Earlier in February, the KSA suspended entry to the kingdom from 20 countries, with the exception of diplomats, Saudi citizens, medical practitioners and their families, to help curb the spread of the coronavirus, the state news agency reported.

The temporary ban that came in effect from February 3, included people arriving from the United Arab Emirates, Germany, the United States, Britain, South Africa, France, Egypt, Lebanon, India and Pakistan.

The decision was based on recommendations by Saudi health authorities.