FO springs into action for evacuation of Pakistanis in Libya

ISLAMABAD: As mass evacuations of foreign nationals continue from strife-torn Libya, the Foreign Office on Monday said progress has been made for repatriation of stranded Pakistanis with the help of friendly governments.

Pakistan has around 18,000 of its nationals in Libya.

"Our Missions in the region have clear instructions from the Foreign Ministry to facilitate early and safe repatriation of Pakistani expatriates to Pakistan," a statement from the Foreign Office spokesperson said.

President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani taking note of the problems of the stranded Pakistanis in Libya directed the Foreign Office Sunday to take immediate measures for safety of Pakistani expatriates.

Pakistan embassy officials are working with the local authorities in Tunisia, Algeria, Egypt and Turkey to ensure prompt repatriation, especially of those Pakistanis who have arrived without proper documentation and passports, the statement said.

The Foreign Office said embassy officials have been sent to the Libyan border to receive arriving Pakistanis.

Arrangements were being made for the arrival of a group of Pakistanis by sea to Turkey from where they will be evacuated by air.

So far the following countries have evacuated their nationals from Libya; Bosnia 150, Brazil 3,000, Britain evacuated nationals on six flights and a naval frigate, Bulgaria 100, Canada 200, China 16,000, Croatia 28, Germany sending three naval ships with 600 soldiers for remaining 150, Greece 227, India 1,200 and is also sending two passenger ships and two naval ships for remaining 18,000, Ireland, Italy 1,250, Netherlands, Philippines sending planes and ships for its 26,000, Romania 40, South Korea 200 and aircrafts to bring remaining 1,300, Spain 124, Syria two ships despatched, Tunisia 7,000, Turkey 14,776, United States 150 and Vietnam 1,300.

According to International Federation of the Red Cross 25,000 people had crossed from Libya to Tunisia by Saturday in five days.

The Foreign Office said it was also making arrangements for "evacuation of Pakistani expatriates who wish to leave Libya."

The Foreign Ministry has contacted Turkey, China, Tunisia, Algeria, Egypt and other countries for the evacuation of Pakistani expatriates through all possible routes.