{
  "id": 7455954,
  "title": "Vaccine confusion leaves Karachi’s international travellers counting the cost",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/15/vaccine-confusion-leaves-karachis-international-travellers-counting",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-09-15T02:56:26.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Dawn",
    "slug": "dawn",
    "url": "https://www.dawn.com/news/2030010/vaccine-confusion-leaves-karachis-international-travellers-counting-the-cost"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Karachi's primary vaccination centre at Jinnah International Airport became a maze of confusion on Monday as hundreds of travellers scrambled to obtain online registration for Nadra-integrated vaccination certificates. Despite initial reports on September 7 suggesting mandatory vaccination certificates for all international travellers from September 14, the government later extended the deadline until September 25, even for Saudi Arabia and African countries.\n\nTravellers, some sitting, standing, and hurrying around the facility, faced long queues, no electricity, and inadequate seating arrangements in the intense heat. Many were informed that they did not need the certificates for destinations other than Saudi Arabia and Africa, leading to significant financial losses for those who had already paid substantial sums. An elderly woman who paid over Rs4,000 claimed her money would not be refunded, deeming it a waste.\n\nThe confusion stemmed from reports on some TV channels and social media presenting the requirement as a blanket mandate, while the government attempted to clarify that the verification fee was non-refundable regardless of whether the traveller ultimately received the vaccination. The verification process involved three stages: Nadra and Pak ID app verification, vaccination at the designated airport facility, and issuance of a vaccination card download.\n\nDespite the extension of the deadline, many travellers expressed dissatisfaction with the government's sudden announcement and poor organization. Some highlighted the need for more staff to manage the long queues and inadequate facilities. The government has also extended the vaccination certificate requirement to more airports in the future.",
  "summary": "People wait in front of a counter at the Federal Govt Civil Dispensary in the airport area for their online registration for Nadra-integrated vaccination certificates. —Fahim Siddiqi / White Star KARACHI: Hundreds of travellers were left scrambling at Karachi’s only designated vaccination centre at the airport on Monday, spending hours in queues and thousands of rupees on a verification process…",
  "key_points": [
    "Karachi's Jinnah Airport vaccination centre experienced massive confusion on September 7.",
    "Government extended deadline to September 25, causing financial losses for many travelers."
  ],
  "editors_take": "The government's changing stance on vaccination certificates for international travellers has led to financial losses and frustration among those who had already obtained them, highlighting poor organization and inadequate facilities.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Dawn - Pakistan",
        "title": "Vaccine confusion leaves Karachi’s international travellers counting the cost",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/15/vaccine-confusion-leaves-karachis-international-travellers-counting-7456442",
        "published": "2026-09-15T02:56:26.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}