Karachi-Saudi travel: Nadra-linked vaccination card mandatory from Sept 25 for pilgrims, workers, those staying 6 months or more

Starting from September 25, pilgrims, workers, and individuals planning to remain in Saudi Arabia for over six months must possess a vaccination card linked to the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) when traveling from Karachi's Jinnah International Airport, according to an official. This development follows Border Health Services-Pakistan (BHS-P) extending the deadline for the implementation of this requirement from September 14 to 10 am on September 25.

Originally announced on September 7, the requirement initially applied only to Haj and Umrah pilgrims, covering vaccinations against polio, meningitis, yellow fever, and influenza. The BHS-P notified the Karachi airport's chief operating officer of the extension via a new notice. According to the notice, the requirement includes influenza, meningitis, and polio vaccines for Umrah pilgrims, work visa holders, and those staying in Saudi Arabia for more than six months.

Dr. Syed Ghulam Murtaza Shah, BHS-P's International Health Regulation Focal Person, confirmed that the NADRA-linked vaccination certificate will also apply to workers and long-term residents. The initiative will expand to additional airports in the future. Previously, BHS-P requested airlines to inform their travel agents that only NADRA-linked vaccination proof would be accepted for travel.

Station managers at all airlines were also asked to inform travel agents about Umrah pilgrims needing a digital vaccine card from an authorized vaccination center before departure. The airport will provide vaccination and online registration facilities in the coming days, and passengers requiring vaccination should arrive at the airport six hours before their flight. The vaccination fee can be paid through NADRA's e-Sahulat platform.