A large number of travellers gathered at a vaccination and verification centre in Karachi on Monday, with some sitting, others standing and many moving between counters in frustration. The facility was operating without electricity and adequate seating amid scorching weather, adding to the difficulties faced by visitors.
The confusion stemmed from an announcement issued on Sept 7 that was widely interpreted, and reported by some television channels and social media platforms, as making vaccination certificates mandatory for all international travellers from Sept 14.
Following the reports, travellers rushed to National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) verification centres and the Federal Government Civil Dispensary at Jinnah International Airport. Many arrived early in the morning and waited for several hours to complete the required procedures.
Some travellers heading to the United States and European countries also visited the centre to obtain vaccination certificates. However, they were informed that the requirement applied only to passengers travelling to Saudi Arabia and African countries.
The government subsequently extended the deadline for implementing the vaccination certificate requirement for Saudi Arabia until Sept 25.
A notification issued by Border Health Services-Pakistan on Sept 14 stated that influenza, meningitis and polio vaccinations were 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 Sept 25 in the interest of the public and relevant agencies.
Dr Syed Ghulam Murtaza Shah, International Health Regulations Focal Person at Border Health Services-Pakistan, said the requirement for a Nadra-linked vaccination certificate would also apply to workers and individuals intending to stay in Saudi Arabia for more than six months.
He added that the initiative would eventually be expanded to additional airports.
An official at the verification centre said the vaccination requirement did not apply to all international travellers. He attributed much of the confusion to reports on television and social media that had presented the requirement as mandatory for everyone.
The official also alleged that some travel agents had contributed to the rush because their businesses had been affected by the government offering vaccinations at lower rates than those charged by some agents.
He clarified that the deadline extension did not apply to the yellow fever vaccination requirement for travellers heading to South Africa.
The vaccination process consists of three stages: verification through Nadra and the Pak ID application, vaccination at a designated airport facility and issuance of a vaccination card that can later be downloaded.
For travellers who had already completed the initial verification stage, however, the deadline extension came too late to recover the money and time they had spent.
Several travellers said they had paid thousands of rupees for verification covering three to four vaccines or tests for travel before Sept 25.
An elderly woman who had already paid the required fee said she was scheduled to travel on Sept 15 and no longer needed to complete the vaccination process before the extended 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 had reached the centre around 8am but were still waiting after 2pm.
“Both our money and our time have been wasted,” she said.
Another woman, who arrived with her husband and daughter, complained about lengthy queues and what she described as insufficient staffing at the centre.
“There should be more staff here. That is why it is taking so long,” she said, adding that her family had arrived early in the morning and spent several hours waiting.
She questioned why the government had not announced the requirement earlier and made adequate arrangements before its implementation.
A young traveller said he had initially visited the Nadra office in Saudabad, but the verification could not be completed because its server was down. He subsequently travelled to a mega centre and completed the process there.
However, he said the effort proved unnecessary as he was travelling for Umrah the following day and did not require the certificate before the extended deadline.
“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 once submitted.
He said the payment went “into the government account” and would not be returned regardless of whether the traveller ultimately received the vaccination.
