Hundreds of Pakistani Umrah pilgrims were offloaded from flights due to the absence of a polio vaccination certificate. At Lahore Airport, several Saudi-bound passengers were denied boarding passes for failing to present the required document.
Saudi Arabia has made polio vaccination mandatory for Umrah pilgrims from Pakistan. While oral polio vaccine (OPV) drops are available at health facilities, only District Health Officers (DHOs) can update vaccination records in the NADRA system. This has caused delays, as DHOs struggle with the overwhelming number of certification requests.
Read more: Saudi Arabia Opens Hajj 2025 Registration for Domestic Pilgrims
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia has suspended the requirement for Neisseria meningitis vaccination for Pakistani travelers. Khaleej Times reported that Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) issued a circular to all airlines, reversing a previous directive. However, the polio vaccination rule remains in place, impacting hundreds of travellers.
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