Pakistan ‘temporarily’ opens Taftan border to allow stranded citizens to return

• Around 250 to 300 Pakistanis were stuck in Iran after the coronavirus outbreak.
• Assistant commissioner says Taftan border between Iran and Pakistan has been temporarily opened to allow for one-way traffic into the country.
• Those entering Pakistan from Iran are being screened and will be kept under quarantine: Qambrani.

(Karachi) Around 250 to 300 Pakistanis stuck in Iran have been allowed to return, media has reported. Those returning include pilgrims among other Pakistani citizens.

The Taftan border between Iran and Pakistan has been temporarily opened to allow only stranded Pakistani citizens into the country.

Reportedly, the citizens were stuck in Iran and their visas were expiring.

Assistant Commissioner of Taftan Najibullah Qambrani confirmed that the Taftan border between Iran and Pakistan has been temporarily opened to allow for one-way traffic into the country.

https://twitter.com/LiaquatShahwani/status/1233398852092383232

"Those entering Pakistan from Iran are being screened. The pilgrims will definitely be kept under quarantine. They will be allowed to leave after proper screening has been done," Qambrani said.

Meanwhile, Balochistan government spokesperson Liaquat Shahwani tweeted that some 350 Pakistanis on the Pak-Iran border have been allowed to enter the country.

Earlier, Pakistan had closed its border with Iran after Tehran reported casualties from the deadly coronavirus. Pakistan had suspended trade activities and its citizens traveling to Iran through the five existing border gates.

Taftan was quarantined for coronavirus screening, while a 100-bed tent hospital was set up in the area for pilgrims coming back from Iran.