Pakistan resumes COVID-19 testing for international passengers

ISLAMABAD – The government of Pakistan has announced that it is resuming Covid-19 testing for international passengers arriving in the country.

An official statement by the Civil Aviation Authority on Saturday said airports have been directed to ensure the implementation of COVID screening for incoming passengers due to the increasing cases of new variants in various parts of the world.

National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) stated on Wednesday that under the guidance of interim federal Health Minister Dr. Nadeem Jan, surveillance at the country’s entry points, including airports, has been intensified.

Following the directives, the Civil Aviation Authority has announced that major airports across the country have begun implementing NCOC instructions of 2% screening of all international flights coming to Pakistan.

Meanwhile, the National Institute of Health has also raised concerns about the increase in the number of Covid cases across the world.

“In recent weeks, JN.1 has been intensified in numerous countries, and its global prevalence is rapidly escalating, as indicated in the advisory from the National Institute of Health (NIH). This swift expansion is evident across the three WHO (World Health Organization) regions including the Americas, the Western Pacific, and the European regions. The most substantial increase has been observed in the Western Pacific, rising from 1.1% in epidemiological week 44 to 65.6% in epidemiological week 48,” highlighted the National Institute of Health Advisory (NIH).

In addition to passenger screening, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has also mandated daily fumigation of passenger lounges to reinforce safety measures. Airport staff has also received explicit instructions to fully cooperate with and support Border Health Services officials.

The latest figures from the National Institute of Health (NIH) indicate that Covid cases are increasing in the country, prompting concerns about the spread of the virus that once brought life to a standstill.