Students wear face masks as a safety precaution against coronavirus. Image Credit:

Dubai: In a surprise move, Pakistan has barred international passengers from entry to the country if they fail to produce COVID-19 negative test result report upon arrival at the airports and land borders.

The move announced by the government on Tuesday has shocked the passengers especially the Pakistani expatriates because healthy person cannot be tested for COVID-19 tests abroad.

Meanwhile, provincial government in Sindh has also announced to shut down all restaurants and shopping malls with effect from March 18 for 15 days. Only pharmacies and grocery stores will be allowed to remain open. The moves comes after Sindah recorded the highest number of 172 coronavirus cases out of total 236 cases reported in Pakistan on Tuesday. However, food delivery will be allowed by the restaurants.

Sindh government has also established a coronavirus relief fund with the seed money of Rs3 Billion. The Chief Minister, provincial minister, advisers, special assistants and all Pakistan Peoples Party members of the provincial assembly will contribute their one months salary to the fund.

Minister for Aviation Ghulam Sarwar Khan on Tuesday said that entry within Pakistan territorial limits would not be allowed without the authentic COVID-19 through RT-PCR negative test result for coronavirus.

Addressing a press conference after cabinet meeting along with Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan and Minister for Religious Affairs, Dr Noor-ul-Haq Qadri, he said, “All passengers travelling to Pakistan would be required to provide certified copy of test result for COVID-19 through RT-PCR conducted during the 24 hours period before boarding the flight.”

He said, that the test result must include the name and passport number of the passenger. Original test result would be required upon arrival at any airport in Pakistan. All airlines were required to comply with this mandatory requirement, he added. The condition would remain in place till April 4, reported APP, the official news agency of Pakistan.

Sarwar said: “The measures have been taken to control the spread of coronavirus in Pakistan.” He said that the position would be continuously monitored as per the evolving situation and would be subject to review at appropriate time.

All domestic departures at the airports are also required to screen passengers for coronavirus before boarding the aircraft. “The mandatory screening at domestic departure would be enforced with effects from March, 21 with the help of respective federal or provincial health authorities” he added.

Pakistan has also opened all the airports for international flights except Gwadar and Turbat. The past few days have been spent in better equipping the remaining International Airports to ensure proper screening of the arriving international passengers.