Pakistan to boost up relief flights to repatriate nationals stranded in UAE

I would still urge the Pakistani community who can stay in UAE to remain there, says Bukhari. Pakistanis who a
15 Apr, 2020
  • I would still urge the Pakistani community who can stay in UAE to remain there, says Bukhari.
  • Pakistanis who are facing transit visa issues, visa expiry or have lost their jobs would be given priority, these flights would begin after 18th April, he added.

Special Assistant to Prime Minister (SAPM) on Overseas Pakistanis Syed Zulfi Bukhari has said that a new flight schedule is under preparation under which Pakistanis stuck in different countries especially in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) would be brought back into Pakistan.

“I know about the difficulties being faced in the UAE, however, I would still urge the Pakistani community who can stay in UAE to remain there as Pakistan does not have enough bandwidth to bring back all overseas Pakistanis in one go,” said Bukhari in his video message.

The SAPM informed there will be one flight on 18th April and then we will make a new flight schedule under which those Pakistanis who are facing transit visa issues, visa expiry or have lost their jobs would be given priority, these flights would begin after 18th April, he added.

“Pakistan only had a capacity to bring back only 2,000 passengers in a week, whereas our people were trapped all across the world. We have got permission to expand these numbers to 8,000 passengers (a week) and Pakistanis stuck in UAE would be our priority,” said Bukhari.

Bukhari said that after 18th April, we would be using UAE aircraft alongside our PIA carriers. He said that the government is monitoring the situation every day but need time to bring overseas Pakistanis back into the country.

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