The recent agreement allows travelers to book connecting flights on a single reservation, simplifying the transit process at Islamabad International Airport. Initially, this will apply to passengers traveling on the Kabul-Islamabad-Dammam route. Travelers’ checked baggage from Kabul will be directly transferred to their onward PIA flight in Islamabad, allowing them to stay in the airside transit area without going through immigration, as long as they remain in that area.
In related news, Pakistan has implemented a new requirement mandating that passengers flying out of the country must show proof of vaccinations for polio, meningitis, yellow fever, and influenza, integrated with Nadra. Travelers without this proof will be barred from international flights. Vaccination services will soon be available at international departure lounges, and passengers needing vaccinations at the airport are advised to arrive six hours prior to departure. Payments for vaccinations can be made online via the e-Sahulat Nadra platform.
For those traveling to Saudi Arabia for Hajj or Umrah, the federal government’s civil dispensary will serve as the sole authorized vaccination center. Airlines, including PIA, will keep travel agents informed about these new requirements, and Umrah pilgrims must obtain a digital vaccination card from Nadra beforehand. A PIA spokesperson has emphasized the importance of fulfilling these requirements before arriving at the airport.
