The deadline allowing Umrah pilgrims to travel without vaccination has been extended by another 15 days, providing additional time for passengers to complete the required health formalities.
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According to focal person Dr Murtaza Shah, Umrah pilgrims can now travel without vaccination until October 10.
He said the extension was granted to facilitate Umrah pilgrims and improve arrangements for passengers travelling abroad.
Five NADRA facilitation centres have also been established at the Karachi Airport dispensary, while vaccination services are expected to begin at the Jacob Lines dispensary next week, Dr Murtaza said.
Meanwhile, the issuance of digital vaccination certificates for Umrah pilgrims and passengers travelling abroad has also started.
However, thousands of passengers in Karachi are reportedly facing difficulties due to the limited number of vaccination facilities.
The federal Ministry of Health has established a vaccination centre at the Federal Civil Dispensary near the Old Terminal.
Passengers, particularly elderly people, women and families travelling with children, have reportedly faced difficulties due to limited facilities at the centre.
The vaccination facility currently operates from a single room, resulting in overcrowding and long queues.
Several passengers said they had reached the centre as early as 8am but were unable to obtain proper information about the vaccination process.
Some passengers also said their flights were scheduled within the next 12 to 15 hours, while they were still waiting for their vaccination certificates.
Under the new procedure, passengers are required to register through the NADRA PakID app. People travelling abroad can also register through NADRA e-Sahulat centres.
The federal government has linked the vaccination process with NADRA and introduced digital vaccination certificates in an effort to prevent the forgery of vaccination documents.
Influenza and meningitis vaccinations have been made mandatory for Umrah pilgrims under the current requirements.
The Ministry of Health has advised passengers to visit vaccination centres around 10 days before their scheduled international travel to avoid last-minute difficulties.
Passengers and Umrah pilgrims have called for an increase in the number of vaccinations centers and better facilities to manage the growing number of people requiring vaccination and certificates.
