UK removes Pakistan from its travel red list
The Red List restricts entry to the United Kingdom to people who are British or Irish citizens or have legal residency in the country. The nationals must take a Covid-19 test and complete a passenger locator form before traveling to England. They must also book a quarantine hotel package that includes two Covid-19 tests.
When they arrive in England, they must quarantine in a hotel under management and undergo coronavirus testing on or before day 2 and on or after day 8 of quarantine.
During the last review; the UK government had promoted Canada, Denmark, Finland, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Switzerland, and the Azores into the green list while keeping Pakistan on the red list.
The UK government also promoted India along with Bahrain, Qatar, and the UAE to the amber list.
Pakistan’s government has been in contact with the British authorities in an effort to get off the “red list” in recent weeks. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson had earlier said; that his government was reviewing Covid-19 statistics to consider; whether Pakistan could be removed from the red list,’ in response to Pakistan’s request.
In the meantime; Pakistan had also responded to the UK’s decision to keep it on the red list by sharing its data on its coronavirus response, testing rates, genomic surveillance, and other efforts to stabilize the spread of the virus.
A letter from Pakistan’s Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Health Dr. Faisal Sultan; to the Secretary of State for Health in the UK expressed disappointment at the UK’s continued inclusion of Pakistan on its red list while removing it from the amber list of countries in the region.
He also noted; that the World Health Organization and the United Nations General Assembly had recognized Pakistan’s efforts to control the new Covid-19 virus.
‘Pakistan Strategy Day’ was also celebrated at the WEF to support Pakistan’s pandemic and economic strategies, according to the SAPM.
In April; the UK government put Pakistan as well as India, Bangladesh, Kenya and the Philippines on the red list of countries.
