- विज्ञापन -
Islamabad: Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) has mandated a polio vaccination certificate for Pakistani citizens traveling to the kingdom. Travelers without this certificate will face strict penalties and legal action.
Pakistan, alongside Afghanistan, remains one of the last countries still affected by polio, with 68 reported cases in 2024. The country has struggled with controlling the disease, especially in the conflict-prone provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, where polio vaccination campaigns are often met with resistance, and health workers have been attacked.
This move comes amid heightened scrutiny of Pakistanis in the Gulf region, as several countries, including Saudi Arabia and the UAE, have imposed visa restrictions. These actions follow increasing incidents of Pakistani nationals involved in begging, crime, and human trafficking abroad. Additionally, many Pakistanis have faced deportations, and a large number of individuals have been removed from flights due to issues with their documents.
Gulf nations like the UAE now require a police character certificate for Pakistani visa applicants, while countries such as Saudi Arabia have halted visas for travelers from numerous Pakistani cities, citing criminal activity concerns.
This crackdown has significantly damaged the reputation of the Pakistani passport, which ranks among the worst in the world. Travelers from Pakistan face difficulties in securing visas, particularly for labor or tourist purposes. The Gulf countries have been increasingly cautious about hiring Pakistani workers due to concerns over their competency and involvement in illicit activities. As a result, more people from countries like India, Bangladesh, and Indonesia are being hired instead.
The restrictions are a response to the increasing number of Pakistanis caught in illegal activities abroad, including begging, drug trafficking, and illegal labor recruitment. Many Pakistani nationals previously traveled to Gulf countries for work or religious pilgrimages, but the growing number of criminal incidents has led to harsher visa policies and significant reputational damage for the country.
