Govt to gradually repatriate Pakistanis stranded in foreign countries: FM

FM Qureshi says international flights have been announced between April 4 and April 11

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Thursday said that federal government would gradually repatriate Pakistanis stranded in foreign countries desiring to return to the homeland.

FM Qureshi said that the National Coordination Committee (NCC) approved the restoration of 17 flights yesterday (April 1).

“Our first priority is to bring back Pakistanis stranded in transit and the ones whose visas have expired are second in priority,” the foreign minister said. “Our third priority is to repatriate Pakistanis and students waiting in foreign countries to return to the country.”

The minister further said that international flights had been announced between April 4 and April 11.



“All these passengers will go through corona testing at the airport; therefore, testing and quarantine capacities are being gradually enhanced,” he explained. “Flights for Karachi will also be opened if the protocol is strictly implemented.”

FM discusses COVID-19 situation with Qatari counterpart

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi discussed the situation resulting from the rapid spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, and ways to mitigate the crisis with Qatar’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mohammad bin Abdulrahman Al Thani on Thursday.

Appreciating the timely measures taken by the Qatari government, the FM said that these steps had helped contain the disease in Qatar.

The minister apprised his Qatari counterpart about Prime Minister Imran Khan's call for debt relief and restructuring to enable the developing countries to free up resources to combat the disease and shore up economies.

He also appreciated the role played by the State of Qatar in facilitating the peace process in Afghanistan.

The foreign minister expressed deep concern over the situation in the Indian-Occupied Kashmir (IOK), where the coronavirus has spread and fatalities are being reported.

He called for the immediate lifting of all restrictions to allow the dissemination of information and unfettered supply of medicines and other essentials.



The Qatari deputy prime minister underscored the importance of learning from the experience of the countries which have managed to control the disease successfully.

He described Pakistan's call for debt restructuring for developing countries as an important and timely initiative and stated that Qatar is supportive of it.

The top diplomats underscored the need for joint efforts to deal with the current challenges and agreed to stay closely engaged on all issues of common interest.