ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) has announced it will allow only fully vaccinated inbound and outbound passengers to travel to the country by air from today, Friday.
The development comes as Pakistan battles a fourth wave of coronavirus infections.
The country reported 56 deaths and 1,024 news cases in the last 24 hours.
The PCAA said the measure was in line with the directives of Pakistan's national pandemic response body, the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC).
"With effect from October 1, 2021, only fully vaccinated passengers aged 18 years and above will be allowed to undertake air travel to Pakistan, while holding proof of complete vaccination against COVID-19," the PCAA said in a notification.
"Passengers below 18 years may be allowed to travel to Pakistan without a vaccination certificate. Pakistani passengers between 15 and 18 years will be allowed to travel inbound to Pakistan without a vaccination certificate until October 31."
The PCAA said partial vaccination criteria would apply to passengers between 15 to 18 years of age from November 1, and full vaccination criteria for inbound travel to Pakistan for passengers between 15 to 18 years will be applicable from December 1.
Pakistani students less than 18 years and studying abroad will be allowed to travel to Pakistan without a vaccination certificate. However, they will be required to be vaccinated while travelling outbound from Pakistan, according to the notification.
Foreigners or foreign passport holders less than 18 years will be allowed to travel to Pakistan without a vaccination certificate. Passengers medically advised against vaccination and holding a certificate from a classified specialist will be allowed to travel to Pakistan without vaccination, or partial vaccination requirement.
The PCAA said passengers, who had travelled outbound from Pakistan before October 1, will be allowed to to return regardless of their vaccination status. This exemption from vaccination requirement will also be applicable on connecting domestic flights of such passengers within 72 hours of arrival into Pakistan
In case of inbound travel testing, the authority said, all passengers of age 6 years and above will be required to possess a valid negative PCR test result, conducted within 72 hours prior to commencement of travel to Pakistan.
"Deportees will be exempted from PCR test requirement," it said.
The PCAA also asked all inbound passengers to Pakistan to register on the Pass Track Application and submit requisite information before their departure to Pakistan.