ISLAMABAD: The sudden decision taken by the Aviation Division and National Command Operations Centre of closing down all flights coming from Doha, Qatar, and United Arab Emirates has landed many Pakistani overseas stuck at various airports while thousands who had bought tickets and granted holidays are also suffering due to the decision.
The move looks to be a tit-for-tat decision against the decision of the UAE which on June 26 extended the ban on flights from Pakistan and 13 other countries till July 21, Gulf News reported, citing a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) issued in this regard.
Dubai had said on June 19 that an entry ban on those who in the past 14 days had visited India, Nigeria and South Africa would ease from June 23.
Interestingly, the UAE government decided to ease out restrictions on other countries including India where Covid-19 conditions are worse. While Pakistani model of handling Covid-19 disease has been termed as a model for the world, Indian handling of Covid-19 has been termed worse.
Under the changes, the entry would be permitted to UAE residents in India who were fully vaccinated against the coronavirus, anyone in South Africa who was fully vaccinated and those in Nigeria who had tested negative for coronavirus in the past 48 hours.
This step may further impact our relations with our friendly countries like UAE and Qatar. Farhan Ahmed, a Pakistani expat living in Chicago, USA, told Pakistan Today that he had bought tickets to spend holidays in Pakistan but the sudden decision has badly impacted his decision.
“You know, we stay here and wait for traveling to our homes once in a while. Now I have no clue what to do as no other flights are available while my tickets are not being refunded,” he said.
Several texts and phone calls made to officials of NCOC and Ministry of Foreign Affairs were not responded. However, Foreign Office Spokesperson Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri told media separately that the officials from Pakistan and the UAE were having talks over the travel ban issue.
Chaudhri hoped that UAE would revoke the travel advisory as the coronavirus situation in the country is better than several other states.
“Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi recently discussed the issue with his UAE counterpart, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed,” the spokesperson said.
Civil Aviation Authority Spokesperson Saad Ayub said according to the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority’s notification, flights from Pakistan, India, South Africa, Nigeria, and several other countries were banned July 21 — and after that, a decision will be taken on lifting or maintaining the ban.
“Flights from Pakistan were banned by the UAE from May 12,” the spokesperson said.
Meanwhile, diplomatic sources told this scribe that UAE’s decision to allow visa holders from India and other countries where the Covid-19 situation was worse than Pakistan — and denying Pakistanis the same rights has raised concerns.
Meanwhile, later in the day, the Turkish authorities issued a revised policy regarding the mandatory quarantine requirement on passengers arriving in Turkey.
As per the new policy, which will go into effect on July 1, the quarantine period for passengers arriving from Pakistan and Afghanistan has been reduced from 14 to 10 days, a statement from the FO said.
We look forward to these summer holidays all the year and Eid celebrations. While whole world is opening borders and easing commutation and our government has taken a step which no government or country would do to their nationals.
Our backs are packed, parents waiting and grand parents waiting to see kids after year and we are just finding tit for tat story here.
this ban is for flights coming from UAE and Qatar only. then why dont u change flight and get another?
It’s not that easy, brother. There aren’t many flights available.
Most flights from the West route through UAE or Qatar
@Rashid, most of the people living in North America and Europe use Qatar, Emirates, Etihad or Turkish airlines to go to Pakistan. No international airline from these regions is flying directly to Pakistan. Booking another ticket with another airline is not that simple and easy as it seems.
dirty politics , our ticket has been Cancelled 3 times . Our backs are packed since one month.
Then write letter to all middle East countries regarding this issue why they impose ban on Pakistan not on India, where covid19 situation is worse then Pakistan. Now these Middle Eastern countries has to face the music of their own song . You people must protest to them as for compensation as well for loss of income since people booked their holidays at their working place. Isn’t it breach of contract?
Stuck at rwanda airport and they are not letting me leave the airport.. missed my flight dont know when the next flight is going to be.
this ban is for flights coming from UAE and Qatar only. is your flight coming from both countries?
Are you a funking idiot…
ANONYMOUS Totally agree with you. @ Rashid you don’t have complete information so please stop writing .
I was so excited to spend Eid with family and see everyone after such a long time. Hopefully they figure this out fast. Man I really wanna go to Pakistan this year.
I was so excited to spend Eid Holidays with Families.
And then Email Was Received from Qatar airways that My flight to Pakistan is been Cancelled This the second time happened to me that i had planed earlier in Eid ul fiter and that also flight was canceled from Qatar to Islamabad.
I don’t no what to do many of Our Friends are so Depressed, looks like this Expatriate life is difficult now would be better to Swathed and back to country permanently.
happen to me too , 2 time cancel , there is one solution and its only for single adult or couple but little harder for family , so buy one ticket to Abudhabi, or Dubai or Doha from anywhere from around the world and then by separate ticket from PIA from these cities to where ever in Pakistan ,because PIA is till coming to all middeleast cities and taking passengers .
Indeed it’s bad situation for overseas Pakistani.
What is our mistake, why we are suffering by this situation.
My flight 3rd time canceled due to uncertainty of relationships between Gulf countries and Pakistan.
To whom we complained about about our money losses and mentally torture.
choose any other airline, except qatar and UAE related.
Dear u don’t have any idea what are u talking. Please do some search before you write comments.. 🙏🙏
Why can’t I buy a ticket on Turkish airlines in July? I booked my Holiday in Pakistan and was really looking forward to it.
Turkiskh flights are canceled too. Dont bother to book. No flight is coming and going from Pakistan from.1st July.
Our flight from US California got canceled three times. This is ridiculous, with bags packed from a month and a half, we were in limbo the whole summer break. Now we can’t even go because flights aren’t going and our break is almost over. My parents waiting to see their baby granddaughter and us and to be with family on eid after so long. Extremely frustrating, why are all countries treated the same way. We are fully vaccinated and done our covid tests. Ridiculous!!!
This is ridiculous decision. We were not able to fly since last 2 years and then we decided to come to Pakistan to celebrate Eid in July and now Qatar Airways has canceled the flights. I managed to reach Pakistan by flying Singapore airlines till Malaysia and then Qatar airways to Doha and then to Lahore. After Qatar airways cancelation I must cancel my Singapore airlines also and losing $1000+. Who will be responsible to this lose???
Har Shaakh pe Ulloo baithey hain…..
“Har Shaakh pe Ulloo baithey hain…..” sorry but this would include you. Why would you travel in a global pandemic. Its not over, and no the Chinese vaccines are not even half a good as they claim it to be. In fact, Saudi WAS going to allow haj for non-Chinese vaccinated people but when countries complained that they could not get their hands on real vaccines, they limited it to only people in Saudi. Did you know that people there are getting revaccinated with the real vaccines?
Seems like NCOC has in capable people and department needs a revival.
Please send your complains to MOFA through online overseas portal. I hope someone reads that.
We have no control over the decision of other countries who make their decisions based on whats good for their people. Take a flight back and try again when there is no global pandemic.
I am trying to authenticate the news. Our flight is in 5 days and still is confirmed but we ll travel via Dubai.
It is so unfortunate. My daughter is fully vaccinated and has to appear in MDCAT and other tests for different universities. She will loose an year if her travel is restricted. The Govt must do something for such students. May be an online test and online documents verification. Or through respective Embassies. Please 🙏
Stuck in Pakistan from 5th July … I have Qatar Residence Permit still stuck bcoz of less flights and highly paid qurantine in Qatar😭
July 5th 2020?
Few months back Pakistan reduced the flights while qatarairways keep showing all flights and people can book any flight. On the 11th hour qatarairways cancel the flights and give impression by saying it is because of Pakistan. Whereas Pakistan already issued the new limited flights schedule.
I have confirmation that still limited flights are working from QR to PK. You can check flight radar for details.
You are right, this is the truth.
Stuck From 5th May😷😷
This is not the right time to travel anywhere. I am stuck in Pakistan since May. Couldn’t take alternate route due to my infant. I would suggest people not to travel at the moment as situation is very uncertain.
Why is no one else reporting the ban from Qatar?
Many of the things mentioned in the article don’t seem to be based on facts that can be cross checked. There is no other report of this ‘sudden decision’ anywhere else. Last report says that Pakistan is easing restrictions at its end.
Can someone verify this?
Even I believe the same thing, I’ve. a flight on 9th July, from dubai to Pakistan I don’t know why but this news seems unreal
This is real my wife had a flight from Calgary to lahore and it was via dubai and was with etihad airways. It got cancelled two days ago and we were trying to figure it our. There’s no information at all about this decision. Our officials are not speaking about it and hiding from confronting. They speak about overseas Pakistanis and on the otherhand NRPs are suffering the most. They should solve these issues we had a lot of plans but everything ruined because of this unsolved issue between Pak and Gulf
Our flight cancelled too from Qatar airways. It was for July 10th. We were badly waiting to travel to home country and see our family members. Now no other sane options are available to travel with young kids..
I have ny flight from Chicago via istanbul to Lahore in 3 days. Just received email that flight from istanbul to Lahore has been cacncelled. No other flights are available. Watar flights to pak still show up but i know many here who received emails from qatar on 11 th hour about cancellations.
Excellent tit for tat decision. UAE Saudi Qatar not allowing pakistanis to come back and extended travel ban to end July for no reason. Covid situation in Pak is much better than most of the countries but they want to please India. Good job Pak Govt!
How it will help Pakistan or pakistani or punish other country? Thinking like this has caused lot of harm to Pakistan. In fact this step is harming own people. Look like department is full of people like you with no Brain.
UAE airlines have only restricted flights coming from Pakistan but there is no restrictions on flights going to Pakistan. Now use your brain, do you want Pakistan let it continue so more Pakistanis get stranded in Pakistan? Even though I am also impacted because my flight to Pakistan got cancelled but it is a very wise decision by Pak Govt.
totally agree with SQ
no it’s not true Pakistan govt reduce the number of flights and frequency .
@SQ, yes there is not restriction on these airlines to take passengers to Pakistan, but the issue is that CAA has reduced their capacity to fly to Pakistan from 100% to 20%, which is why they are canceling the already booked tickets and overseas Pakistanis are trying to raise this issue.
Yes absolutely correct! First of all – you can’t reason with a tiger when you are in its mouth, they are just making life a misery for Pakistan and its people. Secondly- they started it all, the politics by imposing flight restrictions 20% inbound and 40% inbound for others, which they change. Moreover, the moaned and moaned that people from the UK are coming to Pakistan and spreading the Covid “UK variant” when the majority of passengers arriving were Pakistani Passport holders. And even if they were not, whoever they were – the result was that the British Ambassador to the UK in Islamabad said that we will be reviewing the travel policy- next thing Pakistan makes it on the UK’s red list (now you don’t have to worry about the UK bringing in the variant) other countries could then also follow suit and redlist Pakistan. Overall, it looks like a little child is running inter state relations
How would you say that??? In all situations only expiates are suffering, we are mentally fucked up now!
We bought tickets for Stockholm to Islamabad and our flight is canceled third time. Now Qatar Airways giving us tickets after the EID.
Pakistani Govt. taking all the steps to make us disappointed every single day for whatsoever reasons. Ruining travel and holiday plans for many families living abroad. I know families, they already had a PCR test and their flight get canceled on last minutes.
@Majan same as us , we are suppose to travel today from Stockholm to Lahore Today, But our flights has been cancelled three times. sucks
Yar again funny reply. You think by doing this you will stop Pakistani to stranded in Pakistan. How absurd. The person who wants to come to Pakistan from ME, very well know the risk that he can stranded in Pakistan still he is traveling that means he desperately need to be in Pakistan. plus what’s point of banning for other regions?
Why Turkisk airline has suspended all their flights from Istanbul to Karachi or Lahore from 2nd July to 25th July.
Any information ?
Please share, as I booked my family tickets in March and now the flights onward Istanbul are canceled.
Where did you get this information I have a flight on the 5th that hasn’t been canceled yet where did you read this
From where are you supposed to fly ? I’ve a flight on. 9th July from dubai to lahore but there is no such news I got about cancellation yet
Confirm kr lay emirates helpline k sath.
Our flights from New York to Islamabad for July 1st got cancelled yesterday. We were supposed to fly Turkish Airlines. Spoke to a Turkish Airlines agent on the phone who said the next available flight going to Pakistan from Istanbul is on July 18th. Double checked on their website and that seems to be true. Although the price of that ticket is over 1,800 USD.
On the other hand, we got here in Karachi via Emirates. Then due to their extended ban, cancelled tickets and got Turkish Airways for our trip back. Turkish cancelled both July 12th and July19th flights back. Customer service declined to give us a reason for the cancellation. Now on our third ticket with Qatar that has already been cancelling flights on both ends.
Lot of tells on this thread
My flight to Lahore is canceled by the British Airways make me little uneasy but ok
I hope the Pakistani govt has valid reason to implement this decision.
Kya july say koi flights barhay gay ya esi tarah khawari hoti rahay ge? 40% tk kya ho jayye ge flights?
40% only applies for Europe
And none of the European airline is flying directly to Pakistan except British and Virgin and they too are not flying in the month of July.
correct
Pakistan have imposed a 20% inbound flight restriction – many flights are being cancelled due to this, affecting all airlines. There’s clearly a lot of politics going on
They’ve also put some countries on 40%
Overall the whole inbound restrictions have clearly affected Pakistan and its people more than anyone else
Yes absolutely correct! First of all – you can’t reason with a tiger when you are in its mouth, they are just making life a misery for Pakistan and its people. Secondly- they started it all, the politics by imposing flight restrictions 20% inbound and 40% inbound for others, which they change. Moreover, the moaned and moaned that people from the UK are coming to Pakistan and spreading the Covid “UK variant” when the majority of passengers arriving were Pakistani Passport holders. And even if they were not, whoever they were – the result was that the British Ambassador to the UK in Islamabad said that we will be reviewing the travel policy- next thing Pakistan makes it on the UK’s red list (now you don’t have to worry about the UK bringing in the variant) other countries could then also follow suit and redlist Pakistan. Overall, it looks like a little child is running inter state relations
Hello Everyone, my flight is also cancelled from qatar airways, to be honest after reading all the massages it seems like we all understand the situation and don’t want to accept this. So please respect your country first and the decisions they have taken, it is similar like last year situation is not that good still cases are everywhere for corona pandemic. Its better to wait and sabar good from Allah will happen that should be the belief. When the best time will come we can all travel inshallah
Well in my case my flight back to US via Dubai is cancelled. I came to Karachi on 26th and return date was 11th July. Emirates sent me email that my flight to Dubai was cancelled for operational reasons. Kind of stranded. Lot of BS on the phone and so far no firm return date. They made another reservation with caveats that it can be cancelled. Looking for other options. Better not to travel now until these things are sorted out. I had no idea that there were some restrictions when coming to khi. Now kind of stuck.
NCOC basically took a decision to reduce flights at eid fitr and continue till today which no country in the world has taken such decision. Further There is no justification to continue that restriction where covid situation in Pakistan is best. People take decisions blindfolded.
I hope they will review decision, thousands Pakistani paid Stuck. My son first time going to Pakistan he asking me many question its my first time and they cancelled ?
I hope they will open flights soon.
People in ncoc are just making some foolish decisions.
I think this is all happening because Pakistan wont let USA any army bases in Pakistan
Very sad situation for Pakistanis living abroad. My bro in law had booked his fligh from Etihad airways for July 1. But it was cancelled due to this NCOC decision. My bro in law rebooked his flight from PIA ( he has to come to Pakistan due to his daughter marriage) and PIA charged 4400 Canadian dollar for a return ticket. This is a huge amount of money( Rs 563000). Pakistanis send huge amount of remittances every year but in return they get nothing. Rather policies like this means your are taking advantage of the covid situation and emptying people pockets.
Complain Complain Complain, why don’t you all realise that there is still a Pandemic going on. Do you see any less privileged people complaining? Grow up and be responsible! You chose to live outside of Pakistan because it was better for you! Now you complain that you can’t go are eager to put the blame on others! Well done!!
Looks like WASEQ KHAN wants to live outside Pak but does not get a chance to do so. This is endless discussion
true
They did overbook the flights… and people had been waiting to visit family for a while. They covid cases are down in Pak and tbh covid isn’t as bad as people have made it out to be. The world needs to open for people who are vaccinated. Also just because you aren’t as passionate about going to Pakistan doesn’t mean others aren’t too. I still love my family and Pakistan even though I don’t live there. Stop with the narrow mindedness.
@ WASEQ AHSAN you are fucking idiot
Childish response! Now we know your age….
We are fucked up and you said complaining , you don’t becoz your are not in this situation .
He is!!!!
His not in this situation he clearly referred to privilege and ‘you’
And anyway there’s people who are trying to return home who are stuck in Pakistan too
Does anyone has latest news on this subject ? Are we going to get flights before Eid?
Possibly but Pakistan still has that 20% limit till July 15th on international flights at least from the states. I think Canada, UK might have been bumped to 40% flights. I don’t know the covid situation in Pakistan down to a tea but from what I hear everything is opening up. I don’t get why they won’t increase the international flights.
i don’t think so
My flight is scheduled on 18 July 2021 from New York via Turkish airlines but I got message that my connecting flight from Istanbul to Karachi is cancelled.
We had two time cancelled our airlines…Pakistan government play always with the emotional of own nation…busss her chez m apna faida jub lockdown Ka time tha tub lga nhi ab restriction lockdown nazer aa gya surf apny benefit k liy…my kids are and I tollaly craying to see& meet our beloved relative..but in k pass to hota h private jack yay kioo sochy gy logo Ka😭😭😭
Landed in Karachi today from Qatar via QA. Interestingly previous flight on same day was cancelled but luckily not my flight.
Emirates website is showing latest flight schedule as per reduced flights. Same is confirmed by their office. There are 2 flights per week from Dubai to Lahore and Isb, 1 flight to Peshawar and Sialkot and a daily flight to Karachi. But all flights are jammed packed
Mu husband want to came in pakistan for me the last 15th of june he bought a ticket still its 8th july idont even understand jab flights baki sabko lykar arahy hai tu un logo ki fligh he cancel kiun jinho ne pehly ki tickets li hui hai kindaly request ha please reopen that flights for all who stuck in other countries