All pilgrims travelling for Hajj and Umrah from September 14 will be required to carry a vaccination certificate linked to the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra), it emerged on Saturday.
The requirement was announced by Border Health Services-Pakistan (BHS-P) in a notice issued on September 7, which laid down vaccination requirements for Umrah and Hajj pilgrims.
The directives issued to all chief operating officers cover pre-departure vaccinations against polio, meningitis, yellow fever and influenza.
The BHS-P said that from September 14, no passenger would be allowed to travel without “Nadra-integrated” proof of vaccination.
It noted that, as per the health minister’s directives, the federal Government Civil Dispensary was the only authorised centre for vaccinating international travellers going for Hajj or Umrah.
To avoid any inconvenience for pilgrims, all airlines were requested to “strictly inform their travel agents that from now on, only proof of vaccination linked to Nadra will be acceptable for travel”.
The BHS-P also requested station managers of all airlines to inform travel agents that Umrah pilgrims must obtain a “digital vaccine card linked to Nadra from an authorised vaccination centre” before their departure.
Vaccination and online registration facilities will also be available at the airport in the next few days so passengers must reach six hours before their flight if they require vaccination at the airport.
The vaccination fee will be paid through Nadra’s e-Sahulat platform.
In January, Pakistan decided to enforce “strict and enhanced health surveillance” at all entry points in the country to prevent the cross-border transmission of Nipah virus.
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