The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia lifted travel restrictions imposed on Pakistanis, allowing passengers from the country to travel to the kingdom on iqama or a visit visa.
This was revealed by the Foreign Ministry spokesman, who said that it will be mandatory for people to undergo a PCR test in Saudi Arabia after their arrival in the country.
"The PCR test must be performed within 48 hours of arrival in Saudi Arabia," he said, clarifying that Saudi Arabia had not imposed special travel restrictions on Pakistanis.
"Pakistanis can travel to Saudi Arabia easily and without restrictions," he said.
Saudi Arabia had imposed a travel ban on European, African, and Asian countries such as Switzerland, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, Sudan, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Eritrea, Kenya, Djibouti, and Somalia.
The ban was imposed after the number of COVID-19 cases in the kingdom rose to 45.
The development comes a day after the Saudi government granted special permission to Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) on Thursday to operate 21 additional flights, weekly, between the two countries.
According to the spokesman for the national airline, PIA had requested the Saudi authorities to allow additional flights, taking into account the urgent need of many of the Pakistanis to arrive in Saudi Arabia for the renewal of their Iqamas.
He said that with an increase in the number of flights, PIA will be able to carry 25,500 passengers from Pakistan before the 30th of this month, which is the deadline for many to ensure their presence in the kingdom.
On Wednesday, the prime minister's special assistant for Pakistanis abroad, Sayed Zulfikar Abbas Bukhari, had called on Saudi Arabia to increase flights and expand Iqama for Pakistani workers.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Thank you for your comment.