UK softens travel advisory due to 'improved security situation' in Pakistan

[WebGuru]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">UK travel advice change: pleased that nationals will be able to see more of what has to offer <a href="https://t.co/BvNYE6erX1">pic.twitter.com/BvNYE6erX1</a></p>— Christian Turner (@CTurnerFCO) <a href="https://twitter.com/CTurnerFCO/status/1220680926788816904?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 24, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Look forward to welcoming more tourists,investors,academics and other visitors from <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/VisitPakistan2020?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#VisitPakistan2020</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/SMQureshiPTI?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SMQureshiPTI</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/ukinpakistan?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ukinpakistan</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/ZakariaNafees?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ZakariaNafees</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/YounisFouzia?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@YounisFouzia</a></p>— Spokesperson MoFA (@ForeignOfficePk) <a href="https://twitter.com/ForeignOfficePk/status/1220699084941676545?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 24, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/...-pakistan-leads-to-change-in-uk-travel-advice

The United Kingdom has softened its travel advice to its citizens 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,” read a statement issued by the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) on Friday.

The UK FCO provides travel advice based on objective information to help British nationals make better informed decisions about foreign travel.
This is the first major update in the travel advice since 2015.

In 2018, there were an estimated 484,000 visits by British nationals to Pakistan. There are 22 weekly direct flights to the UK.

The improved security situation allowed for the return of British Airways to Pakistan in June 2019 and the visit by Prince Williams and Kate Middleton – the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge – in October 2019.

Among other changes, the advice now allows for travel by road to the northern areas of the country as well as the Kalash and Bumburet valleys.

“Following my arrival in December 2019, I made this review of the travel advice a priority. It is 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,” Dr Christian Turner, British High Commissioner to

The new travel advice for Pakistan, however, reduced the section of the Karakoram Highway, where the FCO advised against all travel to the area between Mansehra and Chilas alone. The previous travel advice covered the full route from Islamabad to Gilgit.

“Travellers may bypass this section by taking the alternative route through the Kaghan Valley and Babusar Pass,” it said.

The FCO advised against all travel to most of Balochistan including the capital city, Quetta. “This is except for the southern coast of Balochistan, including the city of Gwadar, where the FCO advises against all but essential travel,” it added.

Pakistan welcomes new UK travel advisory

Dr Aisha Farooqui, the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, welcomed the UK FCO’s move of relaxing its travel advice for the British nationals.

“Government and people of Pakistan welcome the comprehensive review of travel advisory for British citizens travelling to Pakistan. A Positive step forward, forging even stronger and closer people-to-people links between Pakistan and the UK,” she said on Twitter.

“Look forward to welcoming more tourists, investors, academics and other visitors from the UK,” she added.



Source: https://tribune.com.pk/story/2143601/1-uk-softens-travel-advisory-pakistan-due-improved-security/

 

[Syed1]

Thank you Imran Khan

 

[WebGuru]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">This is great news as it will address two most important econ issues facing Pak today: employment & our current account deficit, by bringing in tourism & investment which in turn will provide employment opportunities esp for our youth. <a href="https://t.co/8iQI6wKnwz">https://t.co/8iQI6wKnwz</a></p>— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ImranKhanPTI/status/1220736338619764737?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 24, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[Ronaldo7]

Thank you Imran Khan

You're thanking the wrong person

 

[DoosraTeesra]

You're thanking the wrong person

Thank you Raheel Sharif

 

[AdamM97]

Credit goes solely to the military.

 

[ExpressPacer]

Good to see. This, along with hundreds of other positive things, is a slap in the face of those who ever doubted Imran Khan's PTI government.

Things got pretty bad over the year with regards to the economy and even I was seriously reconsidering my support for the ruling party but the structural changes were needed.

 

[WhenSultansBowled]

.iSoLaTiOn IsOlAtIoN.

Mandatory!

It's always nice to read good news!

 

[Syed1]

.iSoLaTiOn IsOlAtIoN.

Mandatory!

It's always nice to read good news!

Funny how the TI thread has hundreds of posts, but a thread about some piece of good news regarding the country is pretty much dead.

 

[Ronaldo7]

Thank you Raheel Sharif

and the soldiers who sacrificed their own lives for the betterment of this country.

 

[MenInG]

Thank you Imran Khan

I thought you hated Misbah?

 

[Abdullah719]

US Travel Advisory acknowledges 'improved security' situation in Pakistan

Pakistan has described the update in US Travel Advisory, acknowledging improvement in Pakistan’s security environment, as a step in the right direction.

Foreign Office Spokesperson, Aisha Farooqui in a statement said Pakistan has made resolute efforts to enhance security throughout the country.

She said significant improvement in the security environment has led the United Nations to re-designate Islamabad as a family station for its personnel.

The spokesperson said recently, the United Kingdom, while acknowledging the measures taken by Pakistan, has also revised its Travel Advisory.

She said with Pakistan’s liberal visa regime and conducive environment for tourism, we are confident that larger number of tourists from all over the world would be travelling to Pakistan.

https://nation.com.pk/01-Feb-2020/us-travel-advisory-acknowledges

 

[ahsan17]

So they are acknowledging improved security situation but haven't changed the advisory level. Not ideal, though I suppose this could lead to them changing the advisory level of the next weeks and months.

 

[tahir_dj]

Funny how the TI thread has hundreds of posts, but a thread about some piece of good news regarding the country is pretty much dead.

Negativity sells
Postivity doesnt

Too many wrist slitters await the negative report about Pakistan to do their ho ha

 

[WebGuru]

So they are acknowledging improved security situation but haven't changed the advisory level. Not ideal, though I suppose this could lead to them changing the advisory level of the next weeks and months.

UK changed the the advisory level it's the US acknowledging but not changing yet.

 

[Extra_Cover]

This is good news indeed. In another news Trump has added six more countries into the immigration ban list. Come to think of it when US was planning to issue travel ban we all were contemplating Pakistan being in the first batch itself. But fast forward 4 or so years and travel advices to Pakistan has improved! From isolation to recommended travel destination.

Having said the above one has got to appreciate people working behind the curtains and I hope Imran acknowledges their efforts especially with respect to tourism positivity.

 

[Ronaldo7]

This is good news indeed. In another news Trump has added six more countries into the immigration ban list. Come to think of it when US was planning to issue travel ban we all were contemplating Pakistan being in the first batch itself. But fast forward 4 or so years and travel advices to Pakistan has improved! From isolation to recommended travel destination.

Having said the above one has got to appreciate people working behind the curtains and I hope Imran acknowledges their efforts especially with respect to tourism positivity.

You must be delusional to think he would put Pakistan in the travel ban

 

[Extra_Cover]

You must be delusional to think he would put Pakistan in the travel ban

I didn't meant it in that way. I mean the global impression of Pakistan has improved drastically in a very short period of time.

 

[Ronaldo7]

I didn't meant it in that way. I mean the global impression of Pakistan has improved drastically in a very short period of time.

Yeah i know what you meant.
The “you” was not directed towards you .

 

[sweep_shot]

Not surprised at all. Things have improved a lot since that Peshawar attack.

 

[AdamM97]

I didn't meant it in that way. I mean the global impression of Pakistan has improved drastically in a very short period of time.

And partly due to BJP and their reckless policies. Not long ago, India was seen as a ”responsible nuclear power”. Modi has actually done Pakistan a huge favour if anything.