ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan held a telephonic conversation with Prime Minister Boris Johnson of the United Kingdom today, Monday, and urged him to reconsider his country’s decision to place Pakistan on a “red list” of nations banned from travel to the UK.
Effective April 9, the UK banned entry to people arriving from countries on a “red list” unless they were British or Irish nationals. It announced that those who came to Britain from countries on the red list would be refused entry, while returning Britons must submit to 10 days of mandatory quarantine in hotels.
The cost for one adult to quarantine in a government-approved hotel room for 10 days is £1,750, which does not include the mandatory £210 each passenger has to pay for testing in this period. A negative coronavirus test in this time does not shorten the duration of the quarantine.
Many expats stuck in Pakistan have said the cost of quarantine is unaffordable for them and many are still biding their time in their country of origin until the UK changes its policy or the Pakistan government comes to their rescue.
“The Prime Minister impressed upon the UK to revisit the decision of placing Pakistan on Red List of travel ban countries,” the Pakistani PM’s office said in a statement, adding that the two leaders “exchanged views on the current trajectory of bilateral relations, the Afghan peace process, the Covid-19 Pandemic and climate change.”
“Prime Minister Imran Khan expressed the hope that Pakistan and the UK would be able to forge an even stronger partnership going forward, particularly in the domains of trade and investments. The two leaders agreed on the importance of high level exchanges between the two countries,” the statement said, adding:
“The Prime Minister lauded efforts of Prime Minister Boris Johnson in effectively combating Covid-19 pandemic in the UK. He also briefed his British counterpart on measures taken by Pakistan to tackle the Covid-19 pandemic while saving lives, securing livelihoods, and stimulating the economy.”
On Afghanistan, Khan reiterated Pakistan’s support for an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace and reconciliation process and his long standing stance that there was no military solution to the conflict in Afghanistan and a negotiated political solution was the only way forward.
“Underscoring the importance of a responsible withdrawal, the Prime Minister apprised his British counterpart of Pakistan’s on-going efforts to support the Afghan peace process as part of a shared responsibility,” the PM office said.
PM urges UK to revisit decision to place travel ban on Pakistan
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PM urges UK to revisit decision to place travel ban on Pakistan
- Effective April 9, UK banned entry to people arriving from countries on a “red list” unless they were British or Irish nationals
- It announced that those who came from countries on red list would be refused entry, returning Britons to go through 10 day quarantine in hotels
Pakistan extends ban on Indian-registered aircraft through January, aviation authority says
- Move marks the seventh extension of the ban after a gun attack in Indian-administered Kashmir
- It has forced Indian airlines to reroute flights, raising fuel use, travel times and operating costs
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan extended a ban on Indian-registered aircraft from using its airspace until late January, it said on Wednesday, prolonging restrictions that have disrupted flight routes for Indian airlines.
Pakistan first imposed the restriction on April 24 as part of a series of tit-for-tat measures announced by both countries days after an attack in Indian-administered Kashmir that New Delhi blamed on Pakistan. Islamabad denied any involvement and called for a credible, international investigation into the attack, which killed 26 tourists.
Tensions escalated after India targeted several sites in Pakistan and Azad Kashmir, triggering intense missile, drone and artillery exchanges before a ceasefire brokered by the United States took effect on May 10.
“Pakistan’s airspace will continue to remain closed for Indian-registered aircraft,” the Pakistan Airports Authority said in a statement.
“The restriction will remain in effect from December 25, 2025, to January 27, 2026,” it continued. “The restriction will apply to aircraft owned, operated or leased by Indian airlines, including military flights.”
This marks the seventh extension of the ban, which has forced Indian airlines to reroute international flights, increasing fuel consumption, travel times and operating costs.
Earlier this month, Pakistan accused India of blocking humanitarian assistance destined for Sri Lanka after Cyclone Ditwah, saying a special Pakistani aircraft carrying aid was forced to wait more than 60 hours for overflight clearance.
Pakistan later sent relief supplies and rescue teams to the island nation by sea, officials said.
