Pakistani travelers visiting Saudi Arabia will now be required to present proof of polio vaccination, as per the latest directive by the Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA).
This new rule extends to travelers from Pakistan, Afghanistan, Nigeria, Somalia, and several other nations. Travelers must secure a polio vaccination certificate or proof of receiving an inactivated poliovirus vaccine at least four weeks before arriving in Saudi Arabia. However, transit passengers staying within the airport for less than 12 hours are exempt from this requirement.
Airlines have been instructed to strictly verify the vaccination certificates of passengers from Pakistan, Afghanistan, Nigeria, and Mozambique. Non-compliance with these regulations will lead to severe penalties and legal consequences for the responsible parties.
This move follows the detection of Pakistan’s first polio case of 2025, involving a 13-month-old girl from the Tank district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The child, who began showing symptoms on November 25, was diagnosed with Wild Poliovirus type 1.
Last year, Pakistan reported 68 polio cases, with 21 from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 27 from Balochistan, 19 from Sindh, and one each from Punjab and Islamabad.