Pakistanis stranded in India running out of cash and time
Over two dozen stuck after border closure over viral outbreak; await exit permission list
KARACHI:
Stuck in another country -- particularly one that is on unfriendly terms with your government -- amid a rapidly spreading pandemic sounds like a nightmarish movie plot. For over two dozen Pakistanis stranded in India, that nightmare is real.
The border closure between the two countries since the mid of March over the coronavirus outbreak has left 26 Pakistanis in a lurch in India, running out of cash and also facing the problem of accommodation.
They include Pakistani Hindus, a Sikh family and businessmen who were visiting the neighbouring country on a SAARC visa.
One of them, Ehsan Ahmad, told The Express Tribune that he had landed in India on a visit visa on March 12 and was due to return on March 19 but could not do so because of the border closure.
“Currently I’m stuck in Gurdaspur as Indian Punjab is under a complete lockdown,” he added.
“People here including myself are running low on resources and are hopeful that India and Pakistan will reopen the Wagah border for us.”
Ahmad said the Indian government had granted an across-the-board to visa extension to the stranded Pakistanis.
“Some of the Pakistanis are in Amritsar, a Sikh family has returned to New Delhi and a Hindu family is in Mumbai.”
He further said the Pakistani authorities in India had told them to wait it out until they send an exit permission list to the Indian government for their return.
Javed Iqbal, a businessman from Lahore stuck in Amritsar, said he was a diabetic and also a heart patient. “I am seeking urgent assistance from the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi so that I can go back,” he added.
Amtul Basit said he and his younger sister were visiting India to meet their brother who was sick. “Unfortunately or brother has died and now on top of that we are stuck here and unable to go back to our family in Pakistan.”
Lakhshmi Bai, a Pakistani Hindu who has to return to Sindh, said they should have been informed about the border closure beforehand so that they could have returned. “We have no money now. What should we do now?”
Sobraj, who also belongs to Sindh, complained that he had spent his money on his pilgrimage to Indore and had now run out of cash.
Foreign Office spokesperson Aisha Farooqui told The Express Tribune that the Pakistani government was aware of the Pakistanis stuck in different cities of India.
“Those with medical conditions have returned. The mission in Delhi is in constantly touch with these Pakistanis and is providing as much assistance to them as possible,” she added.
“We are also in touch with Indian ministry of external affairs to ensure their earliest return.”
Stuck in another country -- particularly one that is on unfriendly terms with your government -- amid a rapidly spreading pandemic sounds like a nightmarish movie plot. For over two dozen Pakistanis stranded in India, that nightmare is real.
The border closure between the two countries since the mid of March over the coronavirus outbreak has left 26 Pakistanis in a lurch in India, running out of cash and also facing the problem of accommodation.
They include Pakistani Hindus, a Sikh family and businessmen who were visiting the neighbouring country on a SAARC visa.
One of them, Ehsan Ahmad, told The Express Tribune that he had landed in India on a visit visa on March 12 and was due to return on March 19 but could not do so because of the border closure.
“Currently I’m stuck in Gurdaspur as Indian Punjab is under a complete lockdown,” he added.
“People here including myself are running low on resources and are hopeful that India and Pakistan will reopen the Wagah border for us.”
Ahmad said the Indian government had granted an across-the-board to visa extension to the stranded Pakistanis.
“Some of the Pakistanis are in Amritsar, a Sikh family has returned to New Delhi and a Hindu family is in Mumbai.”
He further said the Pakistani authorities in India had told them to wait it out until they send an exit permission list to the Indian government for their return.
Javed Iqbal, a businessman from Lahore stuck in Amritsar, said he was a diabetic and also a heart patient. “I am seeking urgent assistance from the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi so that I can go back,” he added.
Amtul Basit said he and his younger sister were visiting India to meet their brother who was sick. “Unfortunately or brother has died and now on top of that we are stuck here and unable to go back to our family in Pakistan.”
Lakhshmi Bai, a Pakistani Hindu who has to return to Sindh, said they should have been informed about the border closure beforehand so that they could have returned. “We have no money now. What should we do now?”
Sobraj, who also belongs to Sindh, complained that he had spent his money on his pilgrimage to Indore and had now run out of cash.
Foreign Office spokesperson Aisha Farooqui told The Express Tribune that the Pakistani government was aware of the Pakistanis stuck in different cities of India.
“Those with medical conditions have returned. The mission in Delhi is in constantly touch with these Pakistanis and is providing as much assistance to them as possible,” she added.
“We are also in touch with Indian ministry of external affairs to ensure their earliest return.”