Govt takes serious notice of stopping Pakistani businessmen at Moscow airports: Senate told

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Commerce Engineer Khurram Dastagir Friday informed the Senate that the government had taken serious notice of stopping over 100 Pakistani businessmen at Moscow airports.

The Russian ambassador has already regretted on the unfortunate incident. Responding to a Calling Attention notice raised by Mian Muhammad Ateeq about stranding of more than hundred Pakistani businessmen at Moscow airport, he said the Russian Ambassador was also summoned to the Foreign Office and was asked why these businessmen were stopped despite having legal visas.

He said the ambassador regretted and told that these businessmen were stopped due to non-payment of their hotel reservation, some had no returned tickets and some could not explain their purpose of visit to the Russian immigration authorities.

The minister said that these Pakistani were sent by Karachi based Well Tours company Karachi but could not pay for hotel reservation. Probe was underway about the Well Tours and details would also be shared with this house, he added.

Regarding Pakistan's embassy response, Khurram said that total 132 Pakistani were stranded at two airports of Moscow on March 23. The embassy official visited the airport within one hour. However, the official was not given access resulting taking up the issue on high level, he added.

He said not only breakfast but lunch was also provided to the Pakistani stranded at the airport.