At least five flights including three by the PIA were operated from UAE in just one day
Dubai: Repatriation of stranded Pakistanis continues as another batch of more than 1000 passengers flew back home on five flights from the UAE.
A total of 530 Pakistanis were taken home from Dubai on three PIA flights including one to Karachi and two to Multan on Tuesday, according to Pakistan Consulate General in Dubai. Around 500 passengers were also carried by the UAE based airlines which were not open for sale and carried specific group of passengers. “We do not have details of passengers being carried by the UAE based airlines because they are being operated by the UAE in cooperation with the Pakistan government and are not open for ticket sales for general public,” said a senior diplomat. He said that they have records of only those passengers who were booked on PIA flights.
“Alhamdulillah 3 more flights left Dubai, one to Karachi and two to Multan carrying total 530 stranded Pakistani nationals. Todate, we have evacuated 2,130 stranded Pakistanis through 10 Special PIA flights from Dubai,” tweeted Pakistan Consulate General in Dubai.
The next round of repatriation flights will start May 1 and 21 flights including 15 by the PIA will be operated between May 1 andd May 10 repatriates more than 4600 stranded Pakistanis.
Avoid unnecessary travel
Meanwhile, Zulfiqar Bukhari, Special Assistant to Pakistan Prime Minister for Overseas Pakistanis, advised the expatriates to avoid unnecessary travel to their country and give chance to those who are facing emergency situation after job loss or with expired visas.
No travel agents
Earlier, Pakistan Consulate in a statement warned the Pakistani expatriates not to come to the consulate to buy tickets. “Tickets can only be purchased at designated places once you receive call from the Consulate as per merit list retrieved from the online registration done with the Consulate by the stranded Pakistanis, ”the statement added.
“Please do not visit Consulate for tickets. If anyone is charged more than given fare prices for PIA special flights, please lodge complaint with the Consulate General of Pakistan, Dubai,” it further said.
According to the consulate, more than 40,000 Pakistanis have registered with the Pakistani diplomatic missions in Dubai and Abu Dhabi showing intention to travel back home.
Foreign Minister’s promise
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister of Pakisstan Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Tuesday was briefed that about 62,709 registered Pakistanis await repatriation from abroad, whereas, 11,529 Pakistanis have been brought back so far from around the world. The minister was apprised during a visit of the Emergency Crisis Management Unit to the Foreign Office in Islamabad, according to Geo TV.
“Government is utilising all possible resources to bring back stranded Pakistanis to home in a phased manner,” Shah maintained, adding that government is fully aware of the plight of overseas Pakistanis, who wish to return to their home country as soon as possible.
Last week, FM Qureshi had said that around 2,000 Pakistanis are being repatriated per week, but with extensive testing facilities and resumption of airport operations, up to 6,000 stranded Pakistani expats can be brought back home every week.
“We are trying our level best to facilitate stranded Pakistanis since we are fully aware of their predicament,” the minister had said, adding that the increase in coronavirus testing facilities will help the situation further.
Pakistan has been gradually evacuating its nationals from different countries after flight operations were halted due to the coronavirus outbreak.
