The NADRA system for issuing digital vaccination certificates is facing disruption in Karachi. The outage has caused concern among Umrah pilgrims preparing for travel.
The system is used to issue required vaccination documents for passengers travelling to Saudi Arabia. Authorities have reportedly started issuing certificates manually due to the disruption.
An official said passengers with flights today or tomorrow are being given priority. The move aims to help pilgrims complete their travel requirements on time.
The required vaccination certificate covers several vaccines for Umrah travellers. These include polio, meningitis, yellow fever and influenza.
The requirement is being implemented for Umrah passengers departing from Karachi Airport. Authorities have warned that passengers without the required documents could face travel restrictions.
Dr Syed Murtaza Shah Bukhari is the focal person for Border Health Services. He said restrictions would apply from September 14.
He advised all Umrah pilgrims to obtain their documents before reaching the airport. Pilgrims should use an authorised NADRA vaccination centre for this purpose.
The Federal Government Civil Dispensary has been designated as an authorised vaccination centre. Passengers are advised to complete the process before their scheduled flights.
The digital vaccination requirement is initially being enforced at Karachi Airport. Similar measures are expected at other major airports across Pakistan.
Authorities are expected to introduce the requirement at airports in Peshawar, Islamabad and Lahore. The timing for those airports has not been specified.
Dr Bukhari said airlines and travel agents have received awareness notices. They have been asked to inform passengers about the updated vaccination requirements.
Airlines will also play an important role in enforcing the requirement. Passengers without the necessary vaccination certificate may not receive their boarding cards.
The development has created additional pressure for passengers affected by the NADRA system outage. Manual processing is being used to address the immediate disruption.
Authorities have also arranged health counters at Karachi Airport. These counters will help passengers who still need vaccination before departure.
Passengers without certificates have been advised to arrive early. They should reach Karachi Airport at least six hours before their flight.
The additional time will allow passengers to complete vaccination formalities at the airport. It may also help reduce delays caused by the ongoing system disruption.
Officials are prioritising travellers with immediate departure dates. This is intended to ensure that urgent cases are processed first.
Umrah pilgrims have been urged to avoid waiting until the last moment. Obtaining the required vaccination certificate before travelling can help prevent boarding problems.
The vaccination rules form part of health requirements for international travel. Passengers are responsible for ensuring their documents meet the required conditions.
The current disruption has highlighted the importance of completing travel formalities early. Authorities are using manual procedures while the digital system remains affected.
Pilgrims travelling from Karachi should check their vaccination status before departure. They should also confirm that their certificates are issued through an authorised centre.
The authorities have asked airlines, travel agents and passengers to cooperate. The measures are aimed at ensuring a smoother process for Umrah travellers.
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