ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has responded to the UK government's decision to keep the country on its travel red list.

In a letter, shared by Federal Minister for Human Rights Shireen Mazari on Twitter, Pakistan's Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health Dr Faisal Sultan said that UK's decision to retain Pakistan on its red list while moving other regional countries to the amber list has been received with dismay.

Reply from Dr Faisal Sultan to UK Health Secretary in response to UK govt's "explanation" (C thread) on why Pak is on Red while India has moved to amber! The table exposes claims of UK govt that UK decision based on science & data! Clearly it has been a purely political decision! pic.twitter.com/5rKE8vFaAh

— Shireen Mazari (@ShireenMazari1) August 10, 2021

Dr Sultan pointed out that Pakistan's efforts in controlling the Covid-19 virus have been recognised by the World Health Organization and the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

The SAPM on health highlighted UK’s explanation on why Pakistan is still on the red list and addressed it with support from data on Pakistan’s COVID-19 response, testing rates, genomic surveillance and all other efforts being taken by the Pakistan government to tackle the pandemic and stabilise the spread of the virus.

Last week, the UK government updated its travel rules, promoting India along with Bahrain, Qatar and the UAE to the amber list while keeping Pakistan on its red list.

The decision received widespread criticism from Pakistan as well as British parliamentarians who said it reeked of discrimination.