Pakistan eases C-category passengers' entry

Earlier, the government of Pakistan had decided to impose a complete ban on the entry of travellers from C-category countries from March 23 to April 5 given the severity of the third wave of coronavirus. However, now travellers from these countries will be able to enter Pakistan with special permits.

The C-category created by Civil Aviation includes 12 countries, counting South Africa, Rwanda, Peru, Tanzania, Zambia, Mozambique, Kenya, Ghana, Comoros, Colombia, Brazil and Botswana.

The Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority has also directed airlines to provide details of passengers arriving from C-category countries.

According to the Civil Aviation Authority's guidelines, "All airlines will have to provide a permit and full details of passengers travelling from C-category countries."

A spokesman for the Civil Aviation Authority told a news outlet, “That travel should be allowed only after a special permit.

He further said that direct flights from these countries to Pakistan are not being operated but even such passengers have to submit their application through 'pass track' application before roving inwards.

According to a civil aviation spokesman, travel will be allowed only after the official approval of the NCOC. Besides, the condition of the negative COVID report will remain.

Note that the Civil Aviation Authority has created three categories for international flights.

In the A-category, 20 countries have been included which are exempted from submitting the COVID-19 test for entry into Pakistan.

The list includes Saudi Arabia, Australia, Bhutan, China, Fiji, Japan, Kazakhstan, Laos, Mongolia, Mauritania, Morocco, Myanmar, Nepal, New Zealand, Singapore, Tajikistan, Trinidad and Tobago and Vietnam.

Category-C includes 12 countries from which travellers are completely banned, but will be allowed to travel after special permits.

While all other countries have been included in the B-category and passengers coming from these countries have been required to take the COVID-19 test before coming to Pakistan.