Polio vaccination mandatory for Pakistani Umrah pilgrims traveling to Saudi Arabia

The Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony announced on Monday that Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) has made polio vaccination mandatory for all Umrah pilgrims traveling from Pakistan.

According to ministry spokesperson Muhammad Umar Butt, all travelers must receive the polio vaccine at least four weeks before departure and carry a valid vaccination certificate. He also stated that the vaccination should not be older than six months at the time of travel.

Authorities have urged Umrah pilgrims, Umrah operators, and airline offices to strictly comply with this requirement to prevent inconvenience, including the possibility of being offloaded at airports. Butt further warned that failure to follow the regulation could lead to legal action against those responsible.