ISLAMABAD: Emirates has resumed services to Pakistan after a brief suspension last month, and made coronavirus clearance obligatory for all passengers.
In a statement on Wednesday, the airline said that travelers coming from Pakistan must carry a negative COVID-19 report from a laboratory approved by the airline, where they ought to present their booking reference and passport copy.
They must take a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test up to four days before departure and present their test result at the time of check-in.
“Passengers will bear the cost of PCR test and certificate,” the airline clarified.
On June 24, Emirates suspended its Pakistan services after some passengers who traveled to the country tested positive for the coronavirus in Hong Kong.
Farhan Ahmed, chief executive of Blue Wings travel agency in Islamabad, told Arab News that Emirates had requested all travel consultants to inform passengers traveling from Pakistan that they would be able to board within 96 hours after receiving negative test results.
In June, Pakistan witnessed a sharp rise in COVID-19 cases. As of Thursday, more than 217,800 people were known to have contracted the disease, with over 4,300 new infections reported in the past 24 hours, Health Ministry data showed.
Nearly 4,500 Pakistanis have died from the virus and 2,700 are in critical condition. Over 104,600 are known to have recovered.
