According to reports, The United Arab Emirates has recently changed the covid-19 policy for Pakistani travelers. The UAE made it mandatory for everyone to complete a quick PCR test which should be done four hours before leaving the country. Due to the non-availability of testing facilities at the airports, a huge number of travelers wishing to get back to the UAE have been trapped.
Pakistani airlines are presently working with the medical care specialist in the country to set out quick PCR testing facilities at the airports, so the travelers of UAE do not deal with issues. On August 6, 2021, two flights departed from Karachi to Dubai, However, the airline offloaded 70 travelers because of the non-satisfaction of the PCR test condition.
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) lookout for authorities to step in to request UAE to simply accept antigen test results rather than a quick PCR test.
The assistant director of air transport, Suleman Ghouri signed a statement of CAA and said that we can make sure the travelers from Pakistan hold a legitimate negative PCR test which would be held 48 hours preceding the beginning of the travel to Dubai. He said that we can not give a quick PCR test for outgoing passengers to Dubai as it is presently inaccessible in Pakistan.
Meanwhile, Dubai is terminating travelers from Pakistan at the airport, who might be tested positive by using the quick antigen testing which is conducted six hours before leaving the flight to Dubai, and for people who are coming are being tested with the PCR test undertaken on the arrival of Dubai.
In another press release, the official spokesperson of CAA, Saad bin Ayub also said that a significant number of Pakistani travelers were denied journey from Pakistan to Dubai.
The CAA spokesperson said, Considering the significance of the travel necessity of the travelers between Pakistan and Dubai, it is presented that the above-said matter might be taken up to pertinent authorities of UAE on priority, and the authorities of UAE should be encouraged to evaluate their policy on inbound travelers from Pakistan to Dubai.
