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Thursday, March 14, 2024

Pakistani nationals allowed to travel Qatar visa free

Pakistanis can now travel to Qatar without a visa. The visa will be issued on arrival. However, people traveling to Qatar must be fully vaccinated against covid and polio. They should also have a confirmed return ticket.

The government of Qatar has announced a visa-free entry to Pakistani nationals for 30 days. Visa will be issued to Pakistani national on-arrival at immigration, says the latest news. The visa is extendable for one month, provided that the visitors submit a confirmed returned ticket.

Qatar Airways made an exciting announcement for the Pakistani nationals.

“Invite your friends and family to discover an authentic Arabian treasure in the heart of the Gulf – a land famous for its heritage, innovation, and hospitality now with the added benefit of visa-free entry. Citizens of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan can be granted a visa waiver for 30 days on their arrival in the State of Qatar,” the airline said.

The passengers, however, must meet certain conditions before traveling to Qatar. Passengers must have a passport valid for six months. They should have a valid debit/credit card and a confirmed ticket. The visa will be given free of charge and will be extendable for the same period if passengers submit a confirmed ticket. Also, passengers from Pakistan should carry a certificate of vaccination against polio.

Read more: UAE makes attested vaccine certificates a must for Pakistani visitors

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia also allowed the travel of Pakistani citizens to the kingdom.

According to KSA Muqeem Portal, Pakistanis who have already been injected with two doses of Sinopharm and Sinovac can now travel to Saudia Arabia with one additional dose of Pfizer/AstraZeneca/Moderna/Janssen.

Pakistan has relied extensively on the Sinopharm, CanSinoBio, and Sinovac vaccines donated by neighbor China. This turned into a problem for the tens of thousands of Pakistanis who work in Saudi Arabia and contribute $7 billion to the country’s total annual remittances.

Saudi Arabia on the other hand had only approved the AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Moderna (MRNA.O), and Johnson and Johnson vaccine earlier. Anyone arriving without one of those shots was required to quarantine at a cost many Pakistani workers could not afford.

This news is being welcomed by Pakistani expatriates.

Attested vaccine certificates a must

UAE recently announced that attested vaccine certification is now mandatory for passengers traveling from Pakistan to UAE.

Read more: UAE’s 100% foreign ownership law to boost economic ties with Pakistan

The UAE embassy in Islamabad has informed the Foreign Office of Pakistan that those wishing to travel from Pakistan to UAE would need a vaccine certificate especially issued by NADRA.

The certificate would then be attested by both the Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) and the UAE embassy. The new rule is set to come into effect from 1st August.