LAHORE: Hundreds of Umrah pilgrims were denied boarding at airports across Pakistan due to the absence of polio vaccination certificates, sources said.
As per reports, in the past 24 hours, various airlines, including Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and private and foreign carriers, offloaded 228 passengers who failed to present valid polio vaccination certificates.
Saudi aviation authorities made it mandatory for all travelers arriving in the Kingdom from February 10 onwards to carry a valid polio vaccination certificate. The Saudi Ministry of Aviation has also prescribed that passengers must receive the polio vaccine at least four weeks before their scheduled departure.
