Red-list: Substantial progress made in addressing UK's reservations, says Fawad

Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry has said that Pakistan has made substantial progress in addressing reservations the UK government had regarding its coronavirus data when it retained Pakistan on its travel red list.

Addressing a presser following the Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday, the minister shared that Special Assistant to PM on Health Dr Faisal Sultan had a detailed discussion with Britain's chief medical sciences regarding Pakistan's placement on the red list.

Last month, the UK government updated its travel rules, promoting India along with Bahrain, Qatar and the UAE to the amber list while keeping Pakistan on its red list.

Red list travel rules: Pakistan presents counter to UK's argument

UK authorities responded by saying that the travel advisory is based on scientific data, and had nothing to do with political factors. UK senior health official Jo Churchill in a letter explained the government's decision, citing the lack of testing data as one of the reasons for retaining Pakistan on the list.

However, in the press briefing today, Fawad said Pakistan has addressed most of the UK's reservations regarding the coronavirus testing data, and is hopeful that it will review its travel policies.

UK's decision received widespread criticism from Pakistan as well as British parliamentarians who said it reeked of discrimination.

British MP Yasmin Qureshi, Chair of the All Parties Parliamentary Group on Pakistan (APPG), said that despite Pakistan not having any variants of concern, it remains on the red list, adding that in comparison India, from where the Delta variant of the coronavirus originated from, has been promoted to amber list.

Bradford West MP Naz Shah also expressed her reservations, saying that this was not the first time that the UK had exhibited "callous behaviour" when dealing with the quarantine traffic light system.

Electoral reforms

Meanwhile, the information minister said that the Cabinet had a detailed discussion on electoral reforms.

Fawad said the opposition had no interest in changes around the election process, adding that the government held a demonstration of the Electronic Voting Machine, but to no avail.

“They just issue statements from their homes that they do not accept electoral reforms,” the minister added. Terming the opposition "incompetent", Fawad said that Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz Vice-President Maryam Nawaz can only become the PM if there is intense rigging.

Promoting cinema industry

Fawad added that a proposal was presented to the federal cabinet for non-Indian Punjabi films to be screened in Pakistan for the industry's revival.

"In the proposal, we will seek permission to allow foreign movies in Pakistan. In the 1970s we had 780 cinemas, which have reduced to 78. If we don't take immediate steps, the industry will collapse."

The minister said steps had been taken and a 'package' for the film and cinema industry would be announced next week.

Moreover, Fawad also said that PM Imran has constituted a committee that will formulate a system so that the land of poor people cannot be acquired to appease bureaucrats, journalists and judges.

The committee will be formed under the chairmanship of Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Minister Asad Umar.