Will the Travel Rules for India, Pakistan & Bangladesh Change?

With the British Government set to update the red, amber and green lists on August 5, 2021, are the travel rules for India, Pakistan and Bangladesh set to change?

All three countries are currently on the red list.

Around 25% of Birmingham’s population are of South Asian origin.

Many are wondering when they can next travel to see family members, or when relatives can visit the UK.

Those flying to the UK from red list countries are required to quarantine in a government-managed hotel, costing £1,750.

India

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) advises against all travel to:

• The immediate vicinity of the border with Pakistan, other than at Wagah. This is closed due to Covid-19.
• Jammu and Kashmir, except for (i) travel within Jammu, (ii) travel by air to Jammu, and (iii) travel within the Union Territory of Ladakh.

Pahalgam, Gulmarg and Sonamarg, Srinagar and the Jammu-Srinagar national highway are within areas where the FCDO advises against all travel.

The FCDO advises against all but essential travel to all other parts of India.

This means no holidays, but business trips and urgent family visits are okay if absolutely necessary.

Pakistan

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) advises against all travel to:

• The areas in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Province formerly known as the Federally Administered Tribal Areas.
• The districts of Charsadda, Kohat, Tank, Bannu, Lakki, Dera Ismail Khan, Swat, Buner and Lower Dir in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.
• Peshawar and districts south of the city, including travel on the Peshawar to Chitral road via the Lowari Pass.
• Balochistan province including the city of Quetta but excluding the southern coast of Balochistan.
• The section of the Karakoram Highway (also known as Kara Karam Highway or KKH) from Mansehra to Chilas, via Battagram, Besham City, Dasu and Sazin.
• The immediate vicinity of the Line of Control.

The FCDO has advised against all but essential travel to the following:

• Arandu town and the road between Mirkhani and Arandu in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province.
• The southern coast of Balochistan, defined as the area south of (and including) the N10 motorway as well as the section of the N25 which runs from N10/N25 intersection to the Balochistan/Sindh border, including the port city of Gwadar.
• Areas of Sindh Province north of, and including, the city of Nawabshah
• The remainder of Pakistan based on the current assessment of Covid-19 risks.

Bangladesh

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) advises against all but essential travel to the Chittagong Hill Tracts.

This does not include the city of Chittagong or other parts of Chittagong Division.

The FCDO advises against all but essential travel to the remainder of Bangladesh based on the current assessment of Covid-19 risks.

The UK Government is set to update the travel rules on August 5, 2021, with changes to be implemented a week later.

It is reported that India currently has an infection rate of 20 new cases per 100,000 people over the last seven days.

On average, there are 40,262 new infections each day, which is 10% of the peak number reported on May 9, 2021.

However, vaccination rates are significantly lower than in many western countries.

There are also concerns that a lack of adequate testing in rural areas may mean the true number of cases is not reflected.

Pakistan’s infection rate is 11 per 100,000 but cases are on the rise with 3,546 new infections on average.

This is 60% of the peak number reported on June 17, 2021.

Pakistan’s vaccination rate is also very low, with just 6.1% vaccinated.

Bangladesh has an infection rate of 57 per 100,000 people. However, cases are at a new high, with 13,364 new infections reported each day.

It has a very low vaccination rate of just 3.4%.

This indicates that the travel rules will remain the same for the three countries.