British MPs and citizens have slammed the UK government for keeping Pakistan on its red list of countries at the latest coronavirus travel update while removing India from it. With some saying the decision to keep Pakistan on the red list when other countries have been removed is “political” and not led by scientific data.
Meanwhile, Pakistan has requested that its name be removed from England’s “red” list, according to Pakistan High Commissioner to the United Kingdom Moazzam Ahmed Khan, following Britain’s latest review of its travel restrictions.
In the meantime, Ahmed Khan claimed the coronavirus situation in Pakistan is improving except for Karachi, , and “our government has done fantastic job in its COVID-19 response.”
According to the ambassador, the British government should “appreciate Pakistan’s coronavirus reaction, reassess its actions, and accept Pakistan’s recommendations.”
UK travel update: Full list of countries changing on Green, Amber and Red list
Germany, Austria, Slovenia, Slovakia, Latvia, Romania, and Norway have all been added to the quarantine-free Green list as part of the latest pull of the Government’s travel guidelines.
India, Bahrain, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates will be moved from the Red list to the Amber list, which means that visitors from these countries will no longer be required to stay in a quarantine hotel for 11 nights.
Read more: UK legally challenged for putting Pakistan on red list of travel ban states
Mexico, Georgia, La Reunion, and Mayotte will be added to the Red List in the meanwhile.
Officials are concerned about Covid variants and case rates in Spain, therefore Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has encouraged individuals returning from the country, or any of its islands, to do a PCR test.
The modifications will take effect at 4 a.m. on Sunday.
The news coincides with the announcement that British citizens returning from countries on the red list will be charged more for required stays in government-approved quarantine hotels.
If you visit a red list destination, you’ll have to pay an eye-watering £2,285 for a 10-day stay in a quarantine facility starting August 12.
The second adult pays £1,430, while children aged 5 to 12 pay £325 and children under the age of 5 are free.
The cost of transportation and welfare PCR tests for immigrants from red list nations has been increased from £1,750 per individual.
