The United Kingdom relaxed its travel advice for Pakistan amid improving the security situation in the country.
A British High Commission statement said the UK had changed its travel advice to reflect the improved security situation in Pakistan. “Today’s announcement is the result of a comprehensive review of UK travel advice for Pakistan, based on a wide-ranging assessment of the country’s security situation.
This is the first major update in the travel advice since 2015,” it said. Pakistan immediately welcomed the UK decision. Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi tweeted: “Pakistan, land of peace and progress with incredible natural beauty, warmth & hospitality. This change in travel advice is encouraging, the first major update to the UK’s travel advisory to Pakistan since 2015.
This will further strengthen Pak-UK relations. Welcome to Pakistan.” He gave credit to the armed forces and the whole nation for improving the security situation. “I spoke to my British counterpart on this also. This is great news. We will soon be out of FATF (Financial Action Task Force) if our case is considered on merit,” he added.
Pakistani forces and the nation sacrificed thousands of lives in the recent past to improve the security situation in the country. This week, Prime Minister Imran Khan had also urged US President Donald Trump to improve its travel advisory to Pakistan as the ties between the two countries improved. The BHC statement said: “The improved security situation allowed for the return of British Airways to Pakistan in June 2019 and the visit by The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in October 2019. Among other changes, the advice now allows for travel by road to the North of Pakistan as well as the Kalesh and Bamboret Valleys.” Dr. Christian Turner, British High Commissioner to Pakistan, said: “Following my arrival in December 2019, I made this review of the travel advice a priority. It is a great credit to the hard work of the Government of Pakistan in delivering improved security over the past five years. I am delighted that British nationals will be able to see more of what Pakistan has to offer.’’