British Ambassador to Pakistan Christian Turner defended his country’s decision of red listing Pakistan, saying the move was based on “date and evidence”, reported The Express Tribune. 

The clarification came after the decision --debarring people from Pakistan from traveling to the UK-- drew sharp criticism and accusations of “discrimination” from both, Pakistan and Britain. Pakistan alleged that the move was based on “political” not based on evidence. 

In an interview to The Express Tribune, Turner clarified, “Pakistan was the largest single source of international air travelers into the UK in March; Secondly, Covid positivity amongst those travelers from Pakistan was high – a higher than average percentage of them were testing positive in that day-2 tests.”

“The decision was based on data and evidence collected not here in Pakistan but in the UK,” he said, adding, “This was not a political decision. This was not about politics.”

He also said the presence of the South African variant among people coming from Pakistan was another concern for the UK.

He said it is the sheer number of travelers from Pakistan that compelled the government to take a closure look at the situation. He further added, “There is sort of undertone somehow this is about punishing the country. No, it is not true.”