UK changes travel advice on improved security

The United Kingdom on Friday announced a comprehensive review of UK travel advice for British nationals traveling to Pakistan and also allowed road trips to northern parts of the country due to improved security situations.

"The UK has changed its travel advice on Friday 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," the British High Commission here said in a statement.

Pakistan welcomed the decision, terming it a step forward in forging even stronger people-to-people contacts between the two countries, saying it would also help in promoting Pakistan's tourism sector.

This has been the first major update in the travel advice since 2015. "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," the British High Commission further stated.

Among other changes, the High Commission stated that the advice now allows for travel by road to the North of Pakistan as well as the Kalash and Bamboret 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," said Dr Christian Turner, British High Commissioner to Pakistan.

The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) provides travel advice based on objective information to help British Nationals make better informed decisions about foreign travel.

The new travel advice for Pakistan reduces the section of the Karakoram Highway where the FCO advises against all travel to the area between Mansehra and Chilas alone (previous travel advice covered the full route from Islamabad to Gilgit). Travelers may bypass this section by taking the alternative route through the Kaghan Valley and Babusar Pass.

The travel advisory further stated that the FCO no longer advises against all but essential travel to the Kalash and Bamboret Valleys. The FCO advises against all travel to most of Balochistan including the city of 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.

Like all FCO travel advice, these changes are based on security assessments, which are kept under constant review, it added. In 2018, there were an estimated 484,000 visits by British nationals to Pakistan and there are 22 weekly direct flights to the UK.

Pakistan welcomed the travel advice by the British government, saying it will further strengthen Pakistan-UK relations. "Pakistan; Land of peace and progress with incredible natural beauty, warmth and 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!" Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi stated in a tweet while responding the British government's decision.

In a statement, the foreign minister stated that the credit of review in the British travel advice goes to the whole nation and the armed forces of the country. He said that Pakistan is also engaged in talks with Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Malaysia for promoting tourism.

"We hope that Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Malaysia will cooperate with Pakistan in promoting its tourism," he hoped, adding that the Prime Minister has also urged Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman for the KSA's investment in Pakistan's tourism sector.

Qureshi said that he had discussed the matter with his British counterpart and the Prime Minister had also exchanged views with US President Donald Trump. "If Pakistan's case is looked into on merit, it will also come out from the grey list of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF)," the foreign minister added.

In a series of tweets, Foreign Office Spokesperson Aisha Farooqui described the comprehensive review in travel advice as a positive step forward in forging even stronger people-to-people ties between Pakistan and the UK.

"Government and people of Pakistan welcome the comprehensive review of UK travel advisory for British citizens traveling to Pakistan. A positive step forward, forging even stronger and closer people-to-people links between Pakistan and the UK," she said. "Look forward to welcoming more tourists, investors, academics and other visitors from the UK," the spokesperson added.