KARACHI: Confusion over newly announced vaccination requirements left hundreds of international travellers in Karachi facing long queues, delays and financial losses at the city’s designated vaccination facility on Monday, as the government extended the deadline for mandatory certificates for travellers to Saudi Arabia and certain African countries.
A large number of travellers gathered at the vaccination centre at Jinnah International Airport, where many complained of inadequate seating, a lack of electricity and difficult conditions amid the intense heat. Some remained seated while others stood in queues or moved between different counters in an effort to complete the required formalities.
The rush followed an announcement on September 7 that was interpreted by some television channels and social media users as making vaccination certificates compulsory for all international travellers from September 14.
As a result, travellers began visiting National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) verification centres and the Federal Government Civil Dispensary at the airport to complete the process. Many reached the facilities early in the morning, only to spend several hours waiting.
The uncertainty also prompted some passengers travelling to the United States and European destinations to seek vaccination certificates. They were subsequently informed that the requirement did not apply to them and was instead limited to specific categories of travellers heading to Saudi Arabia and Africa.
Deadline extended to September 25
The situation became more confusing on Monday after the government extended the deadline for implementation of the vaccination certificate requirement until September 25.
According to a notification issued by Border Health Services-Pakistan (BHS-P) on September 14, influenza, meningitis and polio vaccinations are mandatory for Umrah pilgrims, people travelling to Saudi Arabia on work visas and those planning to stay in the country for more than six months.
The notification said the deadline had been extended until September 25 “in the interest of the public and sister agencies”.
Speaking to media BHS-P International Health Regulation Focal Person Dr Syed Ghulam Murtaza Shah said the requirement for a Nadra-linked vaccination certificate would also cover workers and travellers intending to remain in Saudi Arabia for more than six months.
He said the vaccination initiative would subsequently be expanded to additional airports.
An official at the airport verification centre said the vaccination requirement had never been intended for every international passenger. He attributed part of the confusion to television reports and social media posts that presented the measure as a blanket requirement.
The official also alleged that some travel agents had contributed to the rush because the government was offering vaccinations at lower rates than those charged by certain agents. He clarified, however, that the deadline extension did not affect the yellow fever vaccination requirement for travellers going to South Africa.
Travellers complain of wasted money and time
The process requires travellers to complete three steps: verification through Nadra and the Pak ID application, vaccination at the designated facility and issuance of a vaccination card, which can later be downloaded.
For passengers who had already paid for the initial verification, however, the extension offered little relief.
Several travellers said they had spent thousands of rupees on verification covering three or four vaccines or tests because they believed the certificates were required before September 25.
An elderly woman who had already paid the required fee said she was scheduled to travel on September 15 and no longer needed to complete the process before the revised deadline.
“I paid over Rs4,000, but now I am being told that the money will not be returned. So my money has been wasted,” she said.
She said she and her husband arrived at the centre around 8am but were still there after 2pm.
“Both our money and our time have been wasted,” she said.
Another passenger, who arrived with her husband and daughter, criticised the long queues and shortage of staff at the facility.
“There should be more staff here. That is why it is taking so long,” she said, adding that her family had also arrived early and spent several hours waiting.
She questioned why the requirement had not been communicated clearly in advance and why adequate arrangements had not been made before its implementation.
A young man at the centre said he initially visited the Nadra office in Saudabad but was unable to complete verification because its server was down. He then travelled to a mega centre to have the process completed.
“But all that was in vain. I’m travelling for Umrah tomorrow and don’t need the certificate. But because I have paid the fee, which is not being refunded, I am getting the certificate anyway,” he said.
A Nadra official present at the airport dispensary confirmed that verification fees were non-refundable.
He said that once the fee was deposited, it went “into the government account” and could not be returned, regardless of whether the traveller ultimately received the vaccination.
