ISLAMABAD: Foreigners visiting Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province will be exempted from travel restrictions imposed in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak, despite strict anti-virus measures being followed by the rest of the country grappling with the third wave of the disease.
In a directive issued earlier this week, the provincial government in KP, famous for its tourist venues and mountain resorts, “exempted foreign tourists/foreign tour groups” from the nationwide ban on tourism and travel from May 8 to 16.
“Tour operators and hoteliers catering to these individuals should ensure standard operating procedure (SoPS) for COVID-19 and negative PCR tests of these foreign tourists and tourism workforce, keeping health, safety and security as foremost priority,” the statement said.
Pakistan announced a new set of restrictions earlier this month, which includes the closure of all tourist resorts from May 8 to 16, to limit the third wave of the COVID-19 outbreak, with Planning Minister Asad Umar warning people against visiting tourist areas during the Eid holidays.
“Anyone who tries will be turned back,” he said on Saturday.
In NCOC meeting today, chief secretary's from Federating units which have popular tourist destinations, requested to remind everyone that tourist areas are closed from 8th to 16th, so please do not come, or you will be turned back. #StayHomeStaySafe
— Asad Umar (@Asad_Umar) May 9, 2021
On Tuesday, the South Asian nation of over 220 million reported 113 deaths and 3,084 new infections in the past 24 hours.
Since the start of the pandemic in February last year, Pakistan has registered 19,106 deaths and 864,557 COVID-19 cases.
