A Reuters file picture.
ISLAMABAD: The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has made it obligatory for worldwide passengers coming to the nation to offer a duplicate of their take a look at outcomes for COVID-19 — as a part of its measures to comprise the unfold of the novel coronavirus.
The situation will come into impact from March 21, in keeping with assertion issued by the authority on March 17.
The take a look at carried out utilizing the reverse transcription polymerase chain response (RT-PCR) methodology should be carried out 24 hours previous to boarding the flight.
“The test result must include the name and passport number of the passenger and original test result shall be required at the disembarkation airport in Pakistan,” the assertion learn.
“It shall be the responsibility of the airline operators to ensure that no passengers are allowed to board an aircraft without the said test result,” it added.
“The requirement shall be in addition to the current requirement of the submission of a completed health declaration form at the point of disembarkation in Pakistan.”
The CAA additionally directed all airways to make sure disinfection of their plane between every disembarkation and embarkation of passengers as per internationally recognised procedures.
The assertion additional added that worldwide flights would resume in any respect airports of the nation anticipate these in Gwadar and Turbat from March 21 after being geared up with the required infrastructure and sources to make sure correct screening of worldwide passengers.
They embrace the airports in Quetta, Sialkot, Multan, Faisalabad and Peshawar.
Earlier, the CAA had suspended worldwide flights at 5 airports after the Nationwide Safety Committee (NSC) restricted as a part of the sweeping measures to comprise the unfold of coronavirus within the nation.
The CAA notified on Saturday that worldwide flights being operated from Quetta, Sialkot, Multan, Faisalabad and Peshawar had been relocated to the airports in Karachi, Islamabad and Lahore.
The federal government on Friday went all out to forestall a coronavirus outbreak within the nation, closing colleges and cinemas; sealing Iran and Afghan borders; limiting worldwide flights; discouraging giant gatherings and cancelling the joint army parade on March 23.
In keeping with the PIA’s finance division, the losses of nationwide flag service may soar to as a lot as Rs6.three billion a month if the scenario deteriorates within the wake of quick spreading coronavirus and the airline decides to cease worldwide flights fully.
At current, PIA has suspended flights to China, Japan, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman and Italy with a halt to flights to Saudi Arabia coming into impact from March 18.
