Pakistan Remains On The United Kingdom's Red List

 Just when everyone in Pakistan, including Pakistan's Prime Minister, Imran Khan were hoping that Pakistan will make it to the United Kingdom's Amber List, all hopes were shattered when the UK authorities announced their latest travel restrictions. 

As per the latest travel rules issued by the United Kingdom's authorities, the UK has opted to retain Pakistan on its travel restriction red list. 

 

Pakistan has been placed on the red list by the UK authorities for "failing to fulfill the standards on genomic monitoring capabilities, transmission risk, and variations of concern," according to the statement.

 

Pakistan was optimistic that it would be included to the amber list in the latest updated announcement, with senior leaders – including Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan – pressing the UK government to do so.

 

However, it appears that the diplomatic offensive failed, and the suffering of thousands of people who have been separated from their families will endure.

 

Pakistan remained on the red list when seven other countries, namely Canada, Denmark, Finland, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Switzerland, and the Azores were added to the green list at 4 a.m. on Monday, August 30. 

 

On the other hand, Thailand and Montenegro will be placed on the red list simultaneously, "indicating the increasing case rates in these countries and the heightened danger that travels from Thailand and Montenegro can cause" according to the new travel restrictions.

 

"An episode of another variation or existing variations of concern (VOC) or variations being scrutinized (VUI) can't be effortlessly distinguished before it is imported and spreads across The UK," it proceeded, "Also, because of the conspicuous increasing rates joined with lower levels of distributed genomic observation in Thailand and Montenegro than in different nations."

 

Passengers arriving in the UK from red-listed countries will be required to "isolate for 10 days in a controlled quarantine facility and comply with all relevant testing procedures," according to the UK government.

 

As Pakistan had hoped to be removed from the UK the government's travel restriction red list, but it is still on the list, Turkey was also kept on the red list.

The placement of countries was mainly determined by three key factors, as stated below.  

 

According to the relevant agency, three key aspects influenced the final decision on whether to remove or keep the nation on the list.

 

A spokeswoman for the department of health, which manages the countries' traffic light system, revealed that genomic monitoring capabilities, transmission risk, and variations of concern are the most important criteria in reaching the final choice.

 

The Joint Biosecurity Centre conducts risk evaluations of nations and regions, as per the spokesperson. The traffic light system classifies countries based on risk to safeguard public health and the vaccine rollout against variations of COVID-19.

 

Ministers make judgments on red, amber, or green list assignment and related border restrictions, according to the spokesperson, who consider Joint Biosecurity Centre risk evaluations as well as broader public health concerns.

 

GISAID, the World Health Organization (WHO), official reports from host government/administration websites, UK required testing data and information was given by host governments/administrations are among the data sources, the UK government claims it utilizes to influence decisions.

 

Many nations and territories have poor genome sequencing and variant evaluation capabilities or do not disclose their data, making surveillance for potentially harmful variations difficult, according to the government.

 

They also talked to three MPs who have been in contact with the UK government in recent weeks, urging that Pakistan should be removed from the red list, according to some sources.

 

Pakistan has made significant progress, according to one MP, but the "recent spike in mortality rates and infection rates is alarming."

 

The second MP expressed confidence that Pakistan will be removed from the red list. "The UK government is aware that Pakistan has no varieties of concern other than Delta, which has now spread far around the UK and is being dealt with," the third MP added.

 

Several MPs recently wrote to Health Secretary Sajid Javed, claiming that maintaining Pakistan on the red list was causing great hardship to many individuals in the diaspora who have been denied to meet family members, notably severely ill parents, spouses, and children, and are helpless and stuck due to the travel ban by the UK authorities. 

 

Well, all those Pakistanis who wish to travel to the United Kingdom and those stuck in the United Kingdom will have to wait until the UK announces their next travel rules.  

 

It is important to understand that Pakistanis can travel through the amber countries and there is no limitation on the Visa Processing by the UK Government.

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