Pakistan to resume normal air travel with China on November 10

Islamabad: Pakistan will resume normal flights to and from and from November 10, officials said.

Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) announced that all international flights to and from Pakistan will be allowed to operate at full capacity from November 10 – notably with China.

The resumption of flights to China has come as a pleasant surprise to so many businesspersons and students in Pakistan who believe it will open the gates for their travel.

Pakistan government is already in contact with the Chinese government to allow the students to return for physical classes in the Chinese universities.

The CAA sent a notice to all airmen confirming the change. “Government of Pakistan is pleased to allow 100 per cent international passenger flight operations to and from all airports with effect from November 10, 2021 at 0001 PST (Pakistan Standard Time),” read the notice.

The National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) earlier issued the decision due to the declining number of Covid-19 cases in the country.

According to the NCOC decision, all passengers of more than six years – locals or foreigners – will have to carry a negative PCR test report conducted within the 72 hours prior to boarding a flight for Pakistan.

There will be no need for rapid antigen tests on arrival either, it was clarified. However, the exemption does not apply to those travelling via direct flight from category ‘C’ and high-risk countries.

The high-risk countries are Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Germany, Iran, the Philippines and Russia.

Inbound travel to Pakistan from category ‘C’ countries is banned and only allowed on grant of special authorisation by the NCOC’s exemptions committee.

The countries placed in category ‘C’ are: Armenia, Bulgaria, Costa Rica, Iraq, Mexico, Mongolia, Slovenia, Thailand, Trinidad & Tobago and Ukraine.