President, PM direct for steps to ensure safety of Pakistanis in Libya

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani have directed the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Ms. Hina Rabbani Khar and Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir to ensure the safety of Pakistani expatriates in Libya.

In implementation of this directive, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has set up a Special Task Force that is working round the clock to monitor the situation and provide assistance through the Embassies in Tripoli and in the region to Pakistani expatriates in Libya.

Foreign Office Spokesperson Tehmina Janjua in a statement on Sunday said, "Our embassies in the region are on high alert. Situation rooms have been set up in these embassies."

Evacuation of Pakistanis by air, land and sea is being worked for those who wish to leave Libya. A group of Pakistanis has already reached Tunisia and is being looked after for evacuation to Pakistan by the embassy in Tunis.

She said a group of Pakistanis is moving towards the Egyptian border and the Embassy in Cairo will receive them and make the arrangements for their evacuation.

The Foreign Ministry is in close contact with Pakistan Navy

and Pakistan Air Force for evacuation through sea and air.