Islamabad: Mooed Yusuf – Special Assistant to Prime Minister on National Security Division and Strategic Policy Planning, on Friday, announced that government aims to repatriate 2,000 Pakistani nationals stranded abroad due to COVID-19 flight ban.
Moeed Yusuf highlighted the fact that the laid off labour, released prisoners, pilgrims and those with expired on time bound visas will be prioritized and will be flown back on government expenses this week.
“We will continue bringing back stranded Pakistanis during the next week, with approximately 2,000 passengers to return during this period,” he tweeted.
He further assured that upon arrival, all passengers and flight crew will be screened and will be quarantined for seven days if deemed necessary.
As of now, 1,600 Pakistanis have been rescued and flown back to the country via special flights conducted by Pakistan International Airlines (PIA).
Earlier, on April 8, PIA rescued 136 Pakistanis, stranded in Iraq. In addition to it, a special flight is due on April 11 (today), to bring back 175 Pakistani citizens from Kualalampur Malaysia, followed by another on April 13 to rescue 200 Pakistanis stranded in Thailand.