Pakistan will begin special flights to repatriate stranded Pakistanis from the UAE from April 18, informed Pakistani envoy in UAE. Ambassador of Pakistan to the UAE Ghulam Dastgir said that limited flight operation would start soon in coordination with the UAE authorities. “The first special PIA flight will take stranded passengers from Dubai to Islamabad on April 18 and then gradually more flights will be operated from Dubai and Abu Dhabi as well,” he said, quoted Gulf News. The envoy said that priority will be given to those stranded Pakistanis who came here on visit visas and those who have canceled their residency visas/work permits and those who lost their jobs and want to go home. Dastagir said the PIA would start limited flight operation while other airlines including flydubai, Emirates and Etihad Airways are also expected to get permission to operate special flights to different cities in Pakistan. “I want to ensure our community members to be patient as repatriation process would start soon,” he urged the public.