The new Karachi airport vaccination rules for Umrah pilgrims will apply only to passengers departing for Umrah from Karachi Airport initially. The requirements cover polio, meningitis, yellow fever and influenza vaccinations through the NADRA digital vaccination certificate system.
Dr Syed Murtaza Shah Bukhari, focal person for the Federal Airport Health Department and Border Health Services, said passengers departing from Karachi Airport after September 14 will face travel restrictions without the required NADRA vaccination certificate. He said the Federal Government Civil Dispensary is the only authorised vaccination centre.
According to Dr Murtaza, the requirements will initially focus on Umrah pilgrims travelling through Karachi Airport. He added that vaccination requirements will later extend to pilgrims travelling for Hajj after the measures are implemented for specified countries and Umrah passengers.
The Karachi airport vaccination rules will initially affect passengers using Karachi Airport, while similar restrictions are expected to be introduced at airports in Peshawar, Islamabad and Lahore later. Umrah pilgrims have been advised to obtain their vaccination certificates from an authorised NADRA vaccination centre before travelling.
Yellow fever vaccination will also remain mandatory for passengers arriving from Africa and Central and South America. The requirement will also apply to passengers who have a transit stop of 10 hours in affected countries or regions before entering Pakistan.
Dr Murtaza said passengers aged one year or above will have to present the required vaccination certificate when entering Pakistan. Passengers who do not have a certificate have been advised to reach the airport at least six hours before departure, while health counters are being arranged at Karachi Airport for vaccination services.
Airline station managers and travel agents have also been informed about the requirements through awareness notices. Airlines and agents will be responsible for informing passengers about the rules and will not issue boarding cards to travellers who do not meet the required vaccination conditions. The Karachi airport vaccination rules are therefore expected to become an important pre-travel requirement for affected passengers.
