The UK has decided to keep Pakistan on its “red list” for international travel, however, it is promoting India despite its recent spike in Covid-19 cases. The British Lawmakers criticized their government on Thursday (5th August) as the red list ignores India which is the pinnacle harbor of the Delta Variant of Coronavirus.
“Traffic Light” system is adopted by the UK for all international travel which keeps a check and balance on all countries. Green rating is for the countries which possess less risk and quarantine-free traveling. Medium risk countries have been rated amber, and the countries which are placed on the red list must isolate themselves in hotels for 10 days upon the arrival.
Due to an increase in case numbers and the introduction of the Delta strain, Pakistan was placed on the red list in early April, followed by India on April 19. According to an update provided by the British Government, UAE, Qatar, Bahrain along India are to be shifted to the amber list effective from August 8 (Sunday).
The Parliamentarians of the UK expressed their surprise especially Bradford MP Naz Shah. She said that the UK has a “callous behavior” in managing its traffic system. Shah went on to ask why Pakistan was still on the red list, even though the country’s seven-day infection rate was 14 per 100,000 people. India, on the other hand, had 20 illnesses per 100,000, which she described as “far below the great majority of amber list destinations.”
Naz Shah said that the Delta variant is now the most prominent variant of the coronavirus only because the UK decided to move forward with political intentions instead of focusing on what science and logic are presenting.
Yasmin Qureshi, Bolton South MP also noticed that Pakistan is to be retained on the red list even though the statistics show that Pakistan does not have the concerning variants. She said that she tried to question the government on its decision, but it was of no use. According to her, UK is only trying to punish Pakistan for its own economic benefit which only shows clear discrimination.
Yasmin Qureshi in her tweet added that the cost of the Quarantine has also increased from £450-£800 to £2,200. She also said in one of her tweets that she will be writing a letter to the transport minister of Britain, Grant Shapps.
The MP of Labour for Luton North, Sawah Owen also tweeted on this issue and said that it was difficult to make sense of the latest changes. She said that when figures like these come to your attention then naturally the question of why India and why not Pakistan comes to mind. Sawah, in her tweet, said that decisions made in solitude and without due diligence are never helpful for the people we are trying to represent.
Federal Human Rights Minister, Shireen Mazari also took notice of this change and blasted the decision of the UK government. She accused Britain of playing politics and only targeting Pakistan.
Shireen Mazari said that despite the Covid management disaster in India against Pakistan’s good management raised worldwide, the UK government was playing politics by putting Pakistan on the red list.
Meanwhile, Fawad Chaudhry, the Federal Minister of Information and Broadcasting, has launched an online petition urging the British government to remove Pakistan from the red list.
