PIA to bring back Pakistanis stranded in UK, Canada

Four special flights will bring home citizens from Toronto, Manchester airports

The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) on Wednesday announced that its four special flights would bring back the country's citizens stranded in the United Kingdom and Canada.

The entire world has been brought to a standstill as COVD-19 has precipitated a global health emergency with air travel suspended in a raft of countries leading to passengers being left in limbo at airports.

Abdullah Hafeez , the national flag carrier's spokesperson, told The Express Tribune that the decision was taken on humanitarian grounds to evacuate passengers stranded overseas wanting to return home.

PIA operates special flights for Umrah pilgrims’ repatriation

"Three flights will leave for the UK and one for Canada.Flight PK-781  will leave for Toronto from Lahore on Friday March 27 while PK-709 will go to Manchester from Islamabad on Saturday March 28.

Hafeez added that flight PK-757 will leave for London from Islamabad, and PK-791 will leave for Birmingham from Islamabad on the same day.

The PIA spokesperson advised all those stranded passengers to contact the national flag carrier's travel agents or PIA call center to reserve tickets.

The national flag carrier had operated 22 special flights for the repatriation of  Pakistani Umrah pilgrims stranded in Saudi Arabia from Jeddah and Madina after the kingdom suspended all flights to Pakistan.