Unsystematic testing of Gulf state flight travellers begins in Saudi Arabia.

The National Institute of Health’s Centre for Disease Control in Islamabad, which made the decision in the wake of the Omicron sub-variant, advised the authorities to maintain a careful eye on surveillance and monitoring at entrance points.

According to a Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) spokeswoman, RAT would be done proportionally at the three airports for all inbound flights from Gulf countries and Saudi Arabia. He said the RAT process would begin at 12:01 a.m. on May 14 at the Islamabad, Lahore, and Karachi airports.

Initially, Rapid Antigen Testing of 10 to 15 passengers arriving on planes with 150 seats and between 15 and 20 passengers arriving on planes with less than 150 seats was conducted.

The CAA and CDC were putting the safeguards in place in response to the health ministry’s request, according to the spokesman. The CDC’s measures would be in effect until further notice, he said.