ISLAMABAD: The National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) today (Sunday) revised the land border management policy with Afghanistan and Iran in order to contain the spread of different Covid-19 variants.
According to a statement, “The current policy of Land Border Management with Afghanistan and Iran has been reviewed to ensure regulated inbound pedestrian movement and effective management of COVID protocols at Border Terminals (BTS).”
The revised policy will be effective from May 5 till May 20. The policy will only be applicable to inbound pedestrians with no effect on the existing cargo/trade (bilateral/Afghan Transit Trade) movement.
However, the statement added border terminals (BTs) will remain open for seven days a week. “Employment strength of LEAs/health staff at BTs will be increased for implementation of testing protocols and to control high traffic density,” it added.
Highlighting the testing and quarantining protocols, NCOC said inbound pedestrians will undergo Rapid Antigen Test(RAT). Positive cases (for Pakistani nationals only) will be shifted to nearby quarantine facilities.
It also said that thermal scanning for all drivers and co-drivers will be carried out on arrival at the BTs. “Symptomatic cases will undergo RAT testing, positive cases will be dealt with as per the procedure spelled above,” the statement concluded.
