The Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority has revised standard operating procedures for international inbound passengers travelling to the country, making quarantine mandatory for Covid positive travelers.

In a notification issued by the CAA, the authority directed airline operators to ensure strict compliance of the new rules which will be effective from August 9.

According to the new SOPs, all inbound passengers of age six years and above will be required to possess a valid negative PCR test result conducted within the 72 hours prior to commencement of travel to Pakistan.

All arriving passengers will be tested through Rapid Antigen Testing upon arrival in Pakistan, read the notification.

It further added that passengers between the age of six and 12 years who test positive will be quarantined at home under the supervision of civil administration concerned and those aged over 12 will be quarantined at a designated facility as per procedure already in place.

“Considering the volatile nature of the Covid situation, any or all arriving passengers may also be subjected to additional stipulations as mandated by the relevant health authorities upon arrival in Pakistan,” read the notification, adding the SOPs which were issued earlier had been amended to the stated extent.

Earlier, international passengers arriving in the country had to quarantine at their homes, if they tested positive for the coronavirus.