PESHAWAR – Authorities in the capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have arrestedsix passengers for traveling abroad on fake coronavirus certificates,according to local media reports.
The arrests were made during a joint operation by Civil Aviation Authority(CAA) and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Health Department at Peshawar’s Bacha KhanAirport, the Geo News reported on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) has extended theStandard Operating Procedures (SOPs), introduced for all inbound flights toprevent the spread of fatal coronavirus (COVID-19) in the country, tillFebruary 28.
According to two separate notifications shared by the Aviation Divisionhere on Sunday, the negative PCR test requirement for the category B&Ccountry passengers had been reduced from 96 to 72 hours.
From February 1, the PCAA further clarified that only the air passengersholding Pakistani Passport, National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanisand Pakistan Origin Card, besides diplomatic passport holders and theirfamilies from the Category-C countries would be allowed to enter Pakistan,”while in possession of a negative PCR Test Certification conducted within72 hours prior to commencement of travel to Pakistan.” The authority saidany or all passengers arriving in Pakistan from Category-C countries orhaving stayed in a category-C country within the last ten days prior totravel to Pakistan could also be subjected to additional stipulations asspecified by the relevant health authorities upon arrival in Pakistan.
The PCAA also issued a revised list of category A, B&C countries pertainingto international inbound travel to Pakistan in the wake of COVID-19pandemic, which would be valid from February 2.
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As per the updated list, the passengers coming from Category-A countriesincluding Australia, China, Cuba, Finland, Ghana, Iceland, Iraq,Kazakhstan, Madagascar, Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar, New Zealand,Philippines, Qatar, Rwanda, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, SouthSudan, Sri Lanka, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, and Vietnam, were not requiredto carry the COVID-19 PCR test before entry into Pakistan.
For category-B, the authority said the negative COVID-19 PCR test, maximum72 hours old, is required from the international travellers coming from thecountries not specified in the categories A&C.
In category-C, the PCAA said six countries including South Africa, UnitedKingdom, Brazil, Ireland, Portugal and Netherlands had been enlisted fromwhere only Pakistanis, diplomatic passport holders and their families wouldbe allowed to enter Pakistan under the certain SOPs including the 72-hourold PCR test before boarding a flight to Pakistan.
