Location: Pakistan (country-wide)
Event: Update #49 – New Medical Requirements for Boarding Flights
Several airlines have announced that passengers departing from Pakistan will need to complete a COVID test before departure:
- Emirates announced that effective July 10, outbound passengers from Pakistan must carry a negative PCR certificate issued by a local government approved laboratory to be accepted on the flight. Certificates must be issued no more than 96 hours before departure. Emirates did not provide a list of authorized laboratories.
- Etihad required a negative test within 72 hours of flight departure.
- Qatar Airways announced that as of July 13 outbound passengers from Pakistan must present a negative test result issued within less than 72 hours of departure. Children under 12 are exempted from the test if accompanied by family members.Passengers must sign a consent form authorizing the laboratory to directly share the test result with Qatar Airways for authentication. Qatar advises passengers to visit any of the following authorized laboratories below to undergo a medical test at their own expense:
- Excel Laboratories (Tel: +92 300 0506380, E-mail: faran@excel-labs.com)
- Agha Khan Laboratories (Tel: +92 34930051 Ext.: 2130, E-mail: sohail.baloch@aku.edu)
- IDC Laboratories (Tel: +92 343 8530054, E-mail: medical@idc.net.pk)
- Essa Labs (Tel.: +92 (21) 36626125 – 26, E-mail: info@essalab.com)
The inability to provide the above-mentioned medical requirements for either airline will result in passengers not being able to proceed with flight boarding.
The U.S. Mission to Pakistan cannot assist in the coordination of medical testing or flight reservations, passengers must communicate directly with testing laboratories as well as the airline or your preferred travel arranger. Other airlines may institute similar measures, so regularly monitor your airline’s website and any emails you receive from the airline.
For U.S. citizens who choose to remain in Pakistan, stay healthy! Transmission rates continue to increase across Pakistan, and we urge you to review the CDC’s latest recommendations to reduce your risk of contracting COVID-19.
Actions to Take:
- Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive future alerts and updates.
- Stay healthy! Review the CDC’s latest recommendations to reduce your risk of contracting COVID-19.
- Seek medical care right away if you believe you may have COVID-19.
- Monitor flight availability.
- Visit the Department of Homeland Security’s website on the latest travel restrictions to the United States.
- Review the Embassy’s webpage on COVID-19 for Pakistan specific information.
- Visit the Department of State’s COVID-19 information page for the latest information.
Assistance:
U.S. Embassy Islamabad, Pakistan
+(92)(51) 201-4000
ACSIslamabad@state.gov
https://pk.usembassy.gov
U.S. Consulate General Karachi
+(92)(21) 3527 5000
ACSKarachi@state.gov
U.S. Consulate General Lahore
+(92)(42) 3603 4000
ACSLahore@state.gov
U.S. Consulate Peshawar
+(92)(91) 526 8800
State Department – Consular Affairs
888-407-4747 or 202-501-4444
Enroll in Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive security updates
