ISLAMABAD - The British government has assured Pakistan that the decision to include Pakistan in the “red list” is temporary and would be reviewed in the days to come. Britain last month had announced to include Pakistan in the “red list” under which Pakistani citizens are completely banned from travelling to UK citing high Covid-19 cases emanating from Pakistan. However, British citizens including permanent resident and Iresh citizens are exempted from the ban, but they are required to ensure necessary quarantine in hotels and make payments for that. “The matter has been taken up at the diplomatic level by foreign office in Islamabad and British authorities have responded positively”, a senior diplomatic source in the Pakistani foreign office told The Nation. The decision has affected a large number of Pakistani students, businessmen, travellers and those who are on job visa. “We are working closely with British foreign and Commonwealth office and home office to resolve the issue as soon as possible”, Pakistan High Commissioner to UK Moazam Ahmed Khan told The Nation on phone from London. 

“In response to our letter written to the British government on this discriminatory decision, the House of Commons resuming its session on Monday in London where this issue would come under debate”, Khalid Mehmood, Member House of Commons, London, told The Nation on phone from the UK. “We belong to such constituencies in the UK where a large number of Pakistani and other South Asians are residing, and pressure is building on us to immediately take up the matter in British Parliament”, Khalid Mehmood said.

He expressed the hope that the decision would be revised by the British authorities in the days to come. He pointed out that those who are British citizens are supposed to pay hotel bills for necessary Covid-19 quarantine after returning from Pakistan which is not affordable for even a family of four. “There is an issue of booking hotels, as no rooms are available, where people would go,” he observed.

The diplomatic source in Islamabad said the British authorities have informed the government of Pakistan that they have received reports of issuance of fake Covid-19 negative tests by certain laboratories in Pakistan to both Pakistani and UK citizens, which became the reason for this ban.

“The issue has been shared with Pakistani authorities, and it’s being examined and action is likely to be taken against such labourtires in Pakistan”, the source said.