How are coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions affecting travel to Pakistan? Read the latest travel warnings and alerts.
Photo © Getty Images/Raja Islam
Coronavirus (COVID-19) travel restrictions in Pakistan – updated 17 August, 2020
All arrivals must submit a health declaration form, and will be subject to thermal screening. Anyone without COVID-19 symptoms will be given instructions to self-isolate for 14 days.
Flights have resumed, however there may be restrictions introduced with limited notice. Contact your airline for the latest information.
Restrictions are in place to limit large gatherings, and face masks are mandatory in public.
Previous trave alerts and warnings for Pakistan
Tensions with India – March 2019
UPDATE: Pakistan's Civil Aviation Authority partially opened their airspace on Thursday 28th February to allow some commercial flights to operate. News reports have indicated that Pakistan will re-open its airspace on Friday 1st March, however there may be a backlog with flights to/from Asia to Europe, US and Canada. Check with your airline before departure.
Due to increasing tensions with India, Pakistan has closed its airspace until further notice, which will disrupt many flights to and from Asia to Europe, US and Canada. The closure is in response to Pakistani military shooting down two Indian fighter jets. Pakistan and India have had a long held dispute over the region of Kashmir which has seen conflict and hundreds pf people lose their lives, with the most recent incident involving a suicide bomb on February 14th which killed 40 military personnel.
Several air carriers such as Etihad, Emirates, Qatar Aiways, Gulf Air, Fly Dubai, Sri Lankan Airlines, Thai Airways and Air Canada had suspended flights to Pakistan and some Indian airports.
Some airlines flying out of Asian cities to Europe have had to re-route for fueling requirements via Dubai or Mumbai or canceled services completely.
Terror attacks in Pakistan – July 2018
Unfortunately, in July, there were numerous terror-related incidents across the country:
July 25 - 22 killed and 28 injured in Quetta, Balochistan
July 13 - more than 150 killed and over 120 injured in Mastung, Balochistan
July 13 - Four killed and 32 injured in Bannu, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KPK)
July 10 - 14 killed and 65 injured in Yaka Tooy in Peshawar, KPK
These occurred in regions which have been highlighted by several government travel advisories as "Do Not Travel" due to the high risk of insurgent violence and terror-related incidents.
Checkpoint Explosion near Lahore - March 2018
A police checkpoint on the outskirts of Lahore was targeted in an explosion which resulted in the deaths of seven people and 18 injured. The Pakistani Taliban group (Tehrik-e-Taliban) claimed responsibility for the incident.
Pakistan Taliban Attack in Nanga Parbat - June 2013
Gunmen killed 10 people, including nine foreigners, at a mountain climbing camp in Nanga Parbat, in northern Pakistan.
After claiming responsibility for the attack, the Pakistani Taliban group (Tehrik-e-Taliban) declared it was in retaliation for the U.S. drone killing of their second-in-command. A spokesperson said the organization would continue to target foreigners.
The victims were in the Gilgit-Baltistan region as part of a trekking group. The Himalaya region of Pakistan is popular with trekkers in June and July. The Pakistan military evacuated another 20 to 25 trekking groups from the area as a precaution.
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