KARACHI: The deadline for Umrah pilgrims to travel without vaccination has been extended by another 15 days, allowing them to travel without vaccination until October 10.
According to focal person Dr Murtaza Shah, the extension was granted to facilitate Umrah pilgrims and improve vaccination facilities.
Five NADRA facilitation centres have been established at the dispensary of Karachi Airport, while vaccination services are expected to begin at the Jacob Lines dispensary next week.
Meanwhile, the issuance of digital vaccination certificates for Umrah pilgrims and other passengers travelling abroad has also started.
However, thousands of passengers in Karachi are facing difficulties due to limited vaccination facilities. The federal Ministry of Health has established a vaccination centre at the Federal Civil Dispensary near the Old Terminal, but the facility currently has only one room.
Elderly passengers, women and infants are among those facing difficulties because of overcrowding and a lack of facilities.
Under the current procedure, passengers must register through the NADRA Pak ID app, while those travelling abroad can also register through NADRA e-Sahulat centres.
Influenza and meningitis vaccinations have been made mandatory for Umrah pilgrims. The federal government has linked the vaccination process with NADRA and digitised the system to help prevent the issuance of fraudulent vaccination certificates.
Passengers complained that they had been waiting at the vaccination centre since 8am without receiving adequate information. Several said their flights were scheduled within 12 to 15 hours but they had yet to receive their vaccination certificates.
The Ministry of Health has advised passengers to visit vaccination centres at least 10 days before their scheduled international travel.
Passengers and Umrah pilgrims have called for more vaccination centres and improved facilities to ease the process and reduce overcrowding.