Covid-19: Britain excludes 8 countries including Pakistan from travel red list

British High Commisisoner to Pakistan Christian Turner said in a tweet: "Pleased to confirm is Pakistan off the red list. I know how difficult the last 5 months were for so many who rely on close links between the UK and Pakistan".

Pleased to confirm 🇵🇰 is off the red list. I know how difficult the last 5 months were for so many who rely on close links between 🇬🇧 & 🇵🇰. Grateful to @fslsltn @Asad_Umar & superb @nhsrcofficial @OfficialNcoc @NIH_Pakistan @drsafdar64 team for their close collaboration.

— Christian Turner (@CTurnerFCDO) September 17, 2021

New laws will be applicable from September 22.

Other countries are Sri Lanka, Oman, Bangladesh, Kenya, Turkey, Egypt, and the Maldives are among the eight countries that are set to be removed from England's red list, according to the British official.

British Transport Secretary Grant Shapps also tweeted that his country had decided to take Pakistan off its "red list" for international travel after five months.

TRAVEL UPDATE🔊: we’re making testing easier for travel 🧳💉 From Mon 4 Oct, if you’re fully vax you won’t need a pre-departure test before arrival into England from a non-red country and from later in Oct, will be able to replace the day 2 PCR test with a cheaper lateral flow.

— Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP (@grantshapps) September 17, 2021

"From Oct 4, if you’re fully [vaccinated] you won't need a pre-departure test before arrival into England from a non-red country and from later in Oct, will be able to replace the day 2 PCR test with a cheaper lateral flow," he shared.

FM welcomes decision

Foeign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi also welcomed decision of the UK government to remove Pakistan from the travel red list, saying Pakistan shared its concerns on being kept on the list despite irrefutable scientific data on our handling of Covid-19 pandemic. 

Welcome decision of UK government to remove #Pakistan from the travel red list. On his recent visit, shared w/ then FS Raab our concerns on being kept on the list despite irrefutable scientific data on Pakistan’s handling of #Covid19 pandemic. This change is appreciated.

— Shah Mahmood Qureshi (@SMQureshiPTI) September 17, 2021