Karachi Umrah pilgrims get 15-day vaccination deadline extension
Travellers from Karachi may fly without influenza and meningitis shots until October 10, while Peshawar pilgrims have until October 14, officials said.
The federal government has extended the deadline for Umrah pilgrims from Karachi to travel without influenza and meningitis vaccination until October 10, while Peshawar travellers have been given until October 14 before the requirement takes effect. The extensions are intended to ease pressure on passengers facing long queues and limited facilities at vaccination centres.
ARY News reported that focal person Dr Murtaza Shah announced the 15-day extension for Karachi, saying it was granted to facilitate Umrah pilgrims and improve arrangements. Minute Mirror reported that Ghulam Murtaza Shah, focal person for the vaccination drive, said Peshawar's mandatory vaccination will begin on October 15; until October 14, Umrah pilgrims and Saudi visit visa holders from Peshawar may travel without the required shots.
In Karachi, five NADRA facilitation centres have been established at the Karachi Airport dispensary, and vaccination services will begin at the Jacob Lines dispensary next week. The federal Ministry of Health has set up one vaccination centre at the Federal Civil Dispensary near the Old Terminal. Passengers, including elderly people, women and infants, have complained of crowding and a lack of information. Some said they had been waiting since 8am and had flights scheduled within 12 to 15 hours but had not received vaccination certificates.
The vaccination process has been linked with NADRA and digitised to prevent forgery of certificates. Travellers must register through the NADRA Pak ID app or NADRA e-Sahulat centres. Influenza and meningitis vaccination is mandatory for Umrah pilgrims. The Ministry of Health advised passengers to approach vaccination centres at least 10 days before travelling abroad.
Minute Mirror reported that Peshawar has a dedicated vaccination centre at the Civil Surgeon's Office with 20 counters for men and women, and two NADRA facilitation centres are being established there. Shah advised citizens to get vaccinated at least 10 days before their journey. The requirement also covers passengers travelling to Saudi Arabia on visit visas from Peshawar.
Passengers and Umrah pilgrims in Karachi have demanded an increase in the number of vaccination centres and better facilities. The reports did not state whether the extension applies nationally or only to the two cities.
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