KARACHI: The deadline for Umrah pilgrims to travel without vaccination has been extended by another 15 days.
According to focal person Dr Murtaza Shah, Umrah pilgrims can now travel without vaccination until October 10. He said the extension was given to facilitate Umrah pilgrims and improve facilities for them.
Five NADRA facilitation centres have also been established at the Karachi Airport dispensary, while vaccination will start at the Jacob Lines dispensary next week, he said.
Meanwhile, the issuance of digitalised vaccination certificates for Umrah pilgrims and passengers travelling abroad has started. However, thousands of passengers in Karachi are facing difficulties as only one vaccination centre has been established for them.
The federal Ministry of Health has established the vaccination centre at the Federal Civil Dispensary near the Old Terminal. Passengers, particularly elderly people, women and infants, are facing difficulties due to a lack of facilities.
The centre has only one room, resulting in a rush of passengers.
Under the current procedure, passengers are required to register through the NADRA Pak ID app, while people travelling abroad can also register through NADRA e-Sahulat centres.
Influenza and meningitis vaccination has been made mandatory for Umrah pilgrims.
The federal government has linked the vaccination process with NADRA and digitised it, which is aimed at helping prevent forgery of vaccination certificates.
Passengers said they had been present at the vaccination centre since 8am but were not being provided proper information. Several passengers said their flights were scheduled within the next 12 to 15 hours, but they had still not received their vaccination certificates.
The Ministry of Health has advised passengers to approach vaccination centres 10 days before travelling abroad.
Passengers and Umrah pilgrims have demanded an increase in the number of vaccination centres and improvement in facilities.
