Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Friday blamed the provincial governments for non-cooperation in early organised and careful repatriation of stranded Pakistanis abroad, who are waiting to return due to lockdowns in various countries following the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a video statement to the media, Qureshi said that Prime Minister Imran Khan had constituted a committee under him with ministers, advisers and special assistants from aviation, manpower, and national security as its members besides representatives from the National Institute of Health (NIH) and the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).

He said that the committee had framed recommendations to address the problems of the stranded Pakistanis abroad and to ensure an organised and careful repatriation of them back to Pakistan.

"Unfortunately, due to the non-cooperation of the provincial governments, the plans have not yet been fully implemented and are facing difficulties in timely return of the stranded Pakistanis," the foreign minister said, adding, "We are well aware of the unexpected circumstances that provincial governments are facing, but we cannot leave our overseas Pakistanis alone at this difficult time."

He urged the provincial government to cooperate with the Foreign Office and the federal government in the process of repatriation of the stranded Pakistanis in best national interest regardless of all personal and political differences.

Qureshi pointed out that so far almost 1,600 Pakistanis had returned after the efforts of the committee, but still about 36,000 to 40,000 Pakistanis were waiting to return.

He said that on March 21, Pakistan's airspace was closed for any kind of air traffic with a view to prevent the spread of the COVID-19, resultantly many compatriots became stranded in the airports of Dubai, Doha, Istanbul, Tashkent, Bangkok, and Kuala Lumpur. Besides, those Pakistani national who were overseas due to their businesses, tourists, students and others were also affected and now waiting to return to their homes.

"Federal government is committed to the organised and careful repatriation of stranded Pakistanis abroad due to lockdowns in different countries due to COVID-19 pandemic," he said, adding that overseas Pakistanis who had always significantly contributed to the national economy would not be left alone in this difficult hour.

He said that the biggest concern was for those in the Gulf countries where a large number of workforce who were working there were now suffering due to the lockdown in those countries.

He said the lockdown and closure of businesses in the Gulf countries in the wake of coronavirus had rendered many overseas Pakistanis without livelihood. "The government is fully cognizant of the problems of overseas Pakistanis including those stranded in different countries," he said, adding that Pakistan's missions and consulates abroad were extending every possible assistance to the stranded Pakistanis.

He said that all resources were being used to provide them accommodation, food and to meet their other needs.