The Number Of Flights Increased By NCOC For Returning Of Stuck Pakistanis

As Pakistan has administered more than 20 million doses of Coronavirus vaccine, the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) decided on Tuesday to increase the number of flights by 30 percent to bring back around 3,000 Pakistanis daily stranded in different countries.

As per a statement issued by the NCOC, more than 20m doses of vaccine have been administered since February 2021 nationwide. More than 4m doses have been administered in the ongoing month, with over 500,000 doses administered in a single day over the past few days.

As many overseas Pakistanis have been stuck in different countries and they may not manage to celebrate Eidul Azha with their dear ones, the NCOC has decided of increasing the international flight operation from 20pc to 50pc.

“Decision will be effective from July 15 and about 2,500 to 3,000 persons will get benefit from this daily. All the airport management and concerned departments have got recommendations,” it stated.

It was also announced by NCOC that from 1^st August, air travel would not be permitted for unvaccinated. Additionally, strict checking will be implemented on the ways leading to tourist places and vaccination certificates will be checked and verified. And to get the support of concerned departments, including the army, was also decided for the execution of the Covid-related standard operating procedures (SOPs).

The NCOC was also updated that several restaurants had been sealed in few cities including Islamabad, Peshawar, Multan, and Gujranwala against violation of SOPs as the public was sitting there without wearing masks and vaccination certificates.

Read more: Before Eid Ul-Azha, PIA, Other Airlines Raised Fares By 100%

As per the NCOC data, 21 deaths and 1,590 cases were reported in a single day. The number of active cases reached 39,644 on July 13 which was around 31,000 last month. 2,447 patients were admitted to hospitals and 215 of them were critical.