.
Jinnah International Airport, Karachi. Photo: Express
KARACHI:
The deadline for implementing NADRA-integrated vaccination certificates for Umrah pilgrims departing from Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport was extended until Sept 25 at 10am, according to a notification issued by the Airport Health Department of Border Health Services-Pakistan on Monday.
Last week, the federal government made it mandatory for international travellers proceeding for Hajj or Umrah to carry a NADRA-integrated digital vaccination certificate, with no other vaccination cards to be accepted from Sept 14.
The notification, addressed to the chief operating officer of the Pakistan Airports Authority, said the extension was made “in the interest of the public” and “on the request of our sister agencies.”
It stated that the implementation deadline for the vaccination requirement at Jinnah International Airport was extended until Sept 25 at 10am, with the directive covering vaccination against polio, meningitis, yellow fever and influenza.
The vaccinations are mandatory for Umrah pilgrims, work visa holders, and those staying for more than six months in KSA, the notification added.
“In order to minimise chaos and discomfort among Umrah pilgrims, it has been requested that all airlines must convey to their travel agents that from now onwards only NADRA-integrated vaccination proofs will be acceptable for travel,” the notification issued by Airport Health Officer Dr Sara Saeed read.
She notified that passengers should carry a NADRA-integrated digitalised vaccination card at the time of boarding.
The health officer further said the facility of vaccination and online entry for international departure would be made available in a few days, advising pilgrims to arrive at the airport six hours before their flight if they wanted to get vaccinated at the airport.
