ISLAMABAD: Pakistani expatriates from the United Kingdom stranded in Pakistan since April due to a coronavirus-related travel ban have called on the Pakistani government and high commission in London to help them get back to the UK.
Effective April 9, the UK banned entry to people arriving from countries on a “red list” unless they were British or Irish nationals. It announced that those who came to Britain from countries on the red list would be refused entry, while returning Britons must submit to 10 days of mandatory quarantine in hotels.
The cost for one adult to quarantine in a government-approved hotel room for 10 days is £1,750, which does not include the mandatory £210 each passenger has to pay for testing in this period. A negative coronavirus test in this time does not shorten the duration of the quarantine.
Many expats stuck in Pakistan say the cost of quarantine is unaffordable for them and they are now biding their time until the UK changes its policy or the Pakistan government comes to their rescue.
“When we came to Pakistan to attend a wedding in the first week of April, we didn’t know there was any chance of paid quarantine as we were expecting normal quarantine at home,” said Zafar Amin who lives in Bradford and came to Gujarat to attend his sister’s wedding just a week before travel restrictions were imposed. His family had planned to return home on April 15.
“I have a job there and my kids have school to attend but we were compelled to extend our stay due to travel restrictions and the huge cost of hotel quarantine,” Amin said. “We appeal to Pakistani government and the high commission in London to solve this issue with the UK government, so that we can go back to our work.”
Pakistan’s foreign office spokesperson, Zahid Hafeez Chaudhari, told Arab News the Pakistan high commission in London was “constantly in contact with the concerned UK authorities and have formally taken up this issue with them.”
“Facilitation of Pakistani diaspora remains a high priority for our diplomatic missions around the world,” Chaudhari said.
Another Pakistani expatriate, Faisal Khawaja, who came to Lahore from London in March, said it was not possible for him to pay thousands of pounds for hotel quarantine for his family of ten.
“We are stuck due to these unnecessary conditions,” Khawaja told Arab News. “We are in a tough situation as we have business over there. Schools were opened in the UK but my children are unable to attend and they are disturbed due to this.”
South Waziristan based Shah Umer, who works in a law firm in London, said he had just completed his 10 day hotel quarantine, but criticized facilities in the designated hotel despite the hefty amount he paid.
“I was compelled to book a designated hotel from Pakistan as they would allow you to board in from the airport if you did not have a confirmed hotel booking,” Umer told Arab News from London, saying the facilities did not match their cost.
“It was tough 10 days ... but finally I have reached my place,” Umar said, “and will be able to join my work.”
