The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has wrote a letter to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for raising the matter of Rapid PCR condition with authorities concerned as the country lacked resources to conduct this test.
The rapid PCR Test facility cannot be provided to departing passengers for Dubai as it is currently unavailable in Pakistan, the letter said, adding that just rapid antigen testing is being used as a method of testing passengers for Covid-19 at the airports.
The letter continued: "While we may ensure that Dubai terminating passengers from Pakistan hold a valid negative PCR Test Result conducted within the 48 hours prior to commencement of travel to Dubai, we cannot provide Rapid PCR Test facility to departing passengers for Dubai as it is currently unavailable in Pakistan."
The CAA urged the ministry to take up the matter with relevant authorities in the UAE on priority basis to reconsider their policy.
The authority added in the letter: "In lieu, Dubai terminating passengers from Pakistan may be tested at our Airports using Rapid Antigen Testing conducted within the 06 hours prior to departure of flight for Dubai and any subsequent PCR Testing may be undertaken upon arrival at Dubai."
Scores of Pakistanis remained stranded due to the unavailability of Rapid PCR Test facility. The Emirates did not issued boarding pass to passengers at Islamabad and Karachi airports, leaving travellers in deep trouble.
According to sources, these instructions were issued to the accredited labs last night. A private lab rushed its mobile teams to the airport to cash in on the situation though their test reports were invalid for the airline concerned. As soon as the sorry story made headlines, 25 passengers got their money refunded,
Earlier in the week the the UAE announced lifting the ban on transit passenger traffic from Pakistan and other countries. Pakistan’s largest private carrier which operates flights from Islamabad, Peshawar, Lahore and Multan to Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah.