RAWALPINDI: The Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) has mandated that all incoming flights provide a passenger manifest before arrival, as the country increases its vigilance following the detection of its first mpox case.
In response to a World Health Organization (WHO) warning issued on August 14, the National Command and Operations Centre (NCOC) released a national advisory recommending preventive measures.
The government has instructed the PCAA to oversee flights arriving from regions where mpox cases have been reported.
In a directive issued on Sunday, the aviation regulator instructed airlines and ground handling service providers to implement preventive measures against mpox.
“All airlines are required to submit the passenger manifest in advance for all international arriving flights to the Airport Health Establishment and airport management at all international airports, effective immediately,” the PCAA stated.
The manifest must detail the point of origin for each arriving passenger, and airlines are expected to comply fully with this requirement.
PCAA officials are expected to meet with airline representatives on Monday to assess the effectiveness of airport screening measures for suspected mpox cases.
On Saturday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed officials to implement stringent measures to monitor and control the spread of mpox, which the WHO has declared a public health emergency of international concern.
In a meeting, PM Sharif instructed officials to enhance the screening processes at airports, seaports, and borders, according to a statement from the prime minister’s office.
He also directed the NCOC to conduct daily monitoring and reviews of the situation and urged both federal and provincial administrations to improve coordination to prevent the spread of the disease, including launching a comprehensive awareness campaign.
