Pakistan fines Qatar Airways for violating SOPs

Dhaka: The Pakistan government has imposed a PKR 100,000 fine on Qatar Airways for violation of the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) enforced against the COVID-19 pandemic.

One passenger with a positive COVID-19 test report had travelled on the Qatar Airways’ flight to Islamabad, said Abdul Sattar Khokhar, spokesman for the country’s Aviation Division in a statement on October 16. Therefore, the Civil Aviation Authority of the country imposed the fine on the airline.

He further mentioned that the government had taken serious notice of the violation which had put the health and safety of the passengers as well as personnel working at the airport at risk. Thus, the airline shall also be responsible for all expenses incurred on the testing of COVID-19 and quarantine of the passengers and the staff, Khokhar added.

The CAA has already directed the airlines operating flights to and from Pakistan to ensure compliance with the SOPs that have been devised and implemented to protect passengers from contracting the virus.