ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Aviation Division announced on Tuesday that all passengers traveling to Pakistan would be required to provide a certified copy of COVID-19 test results conducted during the 24-hour period before boarding the flight.

“The test result must include the name and passport No. of the passenger,” said the official handout circulated in Islamabad. “Original test result shall be required at the disembarkation airport in Pakistan. All airlines are required to comply with this mandatory requirement.”

“It is reiterated that entry within Pakistan territorial limits shall not be allowed without the authentic COVID-19 through RT-PCR negative test result for Corona virus,” it continued. “The condition will remain in place till 4th April, 2020 0001 hours UTC (0501 hours PST). This measure is being taken to control the spread of Corona virus in Pakistan.”

The official statement added that the requirement for test result would be in addition to the requirement of submission of completed health declaration form at the point of disembarkation in Pakistan.

It also noted that the government’s instructions in this regard would be reviewed at an appropriated time.

The decision comes at a time when the deadly coronavirus has spread to more than 160 countries and nations have stepped up preventive measures, including locking down of their cities and banning international flights, to combat the crisis.

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Imran Khan chaired the meeting of the federal cabinet that also focused on the global pandemic.

Federal Minister for Aviation Division Ghulam Sarwar Khan told reporters after the meeting that the government had allowed international flights from eight airports, though they were limited to only three airports earlier on Friday. “We will disinfect all the aircrafts and flights that will land at these airports to contain the spread of virus,” he said.

The number of COVID-19 cases have sharply soared in Pakistan to 236 in the last couple of days and the government has been struggling to contain the virus by setting up massive quarantine centers for the suspected patients and raising awareness in the public about the disease. No death has yet been reported in Pakistan due to the virus.

The government has also urged people to limit religious congregations and large public gatherings to fight the disease.

The Pakistan Ulema Council (PUC), an umbrella group of religious scholars and clerics from different schools of thought, also issued a decree on Tuesday, urging people to “immediately” postpone all political and religious gatherings due to the spread virus.

“Please avoid handshake and hugging,” PUC Chairman Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Ashrafi told Arab News on telephone. “People must follow the government’s instructions and precautions to keep themselves safe from the virus.”

Meanwhile, the cabinet also approved a “Budget Strategy Paper” to set the government’s priorities and targets for the fiscal year 2020-21.

“We have achieved almost all economic targets in the last eight months despite many hurdles and challenges,” Firdous Ashiq Awan, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Information, told the media after the cabinet meeting.

She said the government was committed to providing “maximum relief” to the public in the upcoming budget. “This strategy paper will help us achieve our social and economic targets,” she added.

Talking about the possible impact of the coronavirus disease on the country’s fragile economy, she said the prime minister had constituted a sub-committee to evaluate the negative impact of COVID-19 on the economy and suggest measures to meet the challenge.

“The committee will also get input from all relevant stakeholders, including industrialists and exporters, to formulate a viable strategy to deal with the challenge,” Awan added.