Pakistan scraps mandatory COVID-19 testing for inbound passengers

This file photo shows Pakistan's National Institute of Health's team facilitating COVID-19 testing for overseas Pakistanis at Islamabad International Airport on June 12, 2020. (Photo courtesy: NIH)

• Passengers between 12-18 years allowed to travel without mandatory vaccination till March 31 
• Last week Pakistan eased COVID-19 curbs in the country amid declining infection numbers 

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Wednesday announced that passengers flying into the country would no longer be required to take a previously mandatory COVID-19 negative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test.
After a omicron-fueled fifth wave of the coronavirus gained momentum in the South Asian nation early this year, last month Pakistan made PCR testing mandatory for all passengers above 6 years of age.
Last month, Pakistan reported over 7,000 COVID-19 cases in a single day, its highest daily number of infections since the pandemic began, with the government imposing new restrictions to curb the fast-spreading omicron variant.
“With effect from 24 Feb 22, requirement of negative PCR report for passengers traveling to Pakistan has been abolished (for fully vaccinated travelers),” the National Command and Operation Center (NCOC), which oversees the country’s pandemic response, said in a statement, adding that non-vaccinated individuals over 12 years would require a pre-boarding negative PCR.
“Passenger below 12 year of age are exempted from mandatory vaccination,” the NCOC statement read. “Passenger between 12-18 years of the age are allowed to travel without mandatory vaccination till 31st March 2022.”
The number of infections has been on the decline in the country for the past few weeks, with 1,232 new cases detected in the last 24 hours, and 43 deaths. The national positivity rate has also dropped to less than three percent.
Last week Pakistan eased COVID-19 restrictions for cities where the coronavirus positivity rate is below 10 percent.
Pakistan, with a population of 220 million, rolled out its vaccine campaign in February 2021, prioritizing health care workers and the elderly. It has since expanded its campaign to include the entire eligible population. Over 96 million Pakistanis were fully vaccinated as of Wednesday and over 1124 million had received a first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.