As Libya descends deeper and deeper into turmoil, the UNHCR says a "humanitarian emergency" is underway. Nearly a hundred-thousand foreign nationals working in the country have fled. Since a majority of these people came from neighbouring Tunisia and Egypt, it was easy for them to return home. Western governments are evacuating their citizens by land, air and sea routes.
Even India sent two special planes to the troubled North Africa on Saturday to bring back its citizens. But no such luck for Pakistani expatriates in Libya. The foreign ministry is still talking the talk but not walking.
Foreign Office spokesperson issued a statement saying that a group of Pakistanis had reached Tunisia, and is being looked after by our Tunis embassy while awaiting evacuation to Pakistan. Another group, she said, is reported to be moving towards the Egyptian border, and that arrangements would be made for its departure home as well. Our embassies in the region, she said, are on high alert, and have set up situation rooms.
This is reassuring considering that our embassies do not have a great track record in offering help to ordinary Pakistanis abroad. A majority of the Pakistanis who have been stranded in Libya, in many cases, without food or water, are working-class expatriates, who happen to be a major source of this country's foreign exchange earnings. The government must do all it can to help them.
It is plain from the FO spokesperson's assertions that so far the Pakistanis who succeeded in getting out to the comparative safety of neighbouring Egypt and Tunisia, did so on a self-help basis. The government undertook no special effort to bring them to safety. The spokesperson said that the foreign ministry is in close contact with the Navy and the Air Force to work out an evacuation plan by sea and air for those wishing to leave Libya. The situation being as bad as it is, and threatening to further worsen, some of those caught in it are reluctant to leave.
These are people who have been working in the country for a number of years, and have savings in banks and other valuables to worry about. The banks are closed, and hence no money transfers or other kinds of transactions can be made. Still others are worried about losing well-paid jobs, with little hope of finding gainful employment back home in Pakistan. Hopefully, the foreign ministry is aware of these concerns. Aside from taking measures for the safety of all Pakistanis working in Libya, it needs to prepare a well thought-out plan to address these concerns.