The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has issued a fresh travel advisory inbound passengers amid the surge in coronavirus cases.
These Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) will take effect from May 5 and will continue to remain effective until further orders.
The new travel advisory requires inbound passengers to undergo Rapid Antigen Testing on arrival at Airports in Pakistan. People that test negative will undergo a ten-day self-quarantine at home under the supervision of health officials with stringent Trace, Test & Quarantine (TTQ) protocols.
Positive cases (if any) will be shifted to a self-paid facility for ten days quarantine with TTQ of contacts. Their second PCR test will be conducted on the 8th day of the quarantine period. They will be allowed to go home if they test negative.
However, in case of a second positive, the health official will decide whether to extend the quarantine period or shift the passenger to a hospital.
The aviation authority has removed Category A and B from its travel restrictions. From now on, every passenger will have to produce a negative PCR test at the time of boarding.
If any passenger travels without a negative PCR test, the airline will be held responsible and liable to financial and administrative penalties as per Civil Aviation Rules.
There will be a complete ban on travelers coming from Category C countries. The list includes 23 countries, including Brazil, India, Kenya, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Peru, and others.
Those intending to travel to Pakistan from these countries will require prior permission from the National Command and Operations Centre (NCOC).