US to airlift its citizens via two special flights

PIA has decided to expand its relief flight operations in a bid to repatriate stranded Pakistanis

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has allowed the United States to send two chartered planes to Islamabad for the repatriation of American citizens.

The first special flight will reach Islamabad on Friday (today), while the other will arrive in the federal capital on April 12.

The US citizens have been stranded in the country due to the ongoing lockdown and travel restrictions imposed in the wake of coronavirus pandemic.

Punjab police chief has been asked to direct the authorities concerned to facilitate the US citizens travelling to Islamabad with their luggage from different parts of the country.

The passengers intending to travel to the US have been asked to reach the airport three hours before the check-in starts. Health screening, signing of paperwork with the embassy staff and immigration process will be completed on their arrival at the airport.

Those with confirmed tickets have been asked to bring with them masks and gloves to wear them at the airport and while travelling.

Meanwhile, on the directives of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) Chief Executive Officer Air Marshal Arshad Malik, the national flag carrier has decided to expand its relief flight operations in a bid to repatriate stranded Pakistanis from around the world.

As per the breakdown of the schedule relayed by the national flag carrier’s spokesperson, a PIA fight will bring back stranded nationals from Denmark on Friday (today).

On April 11, three flights will operate, with the first one repatriating 125 Pakistanis from Azerbaijan.

On the same day, another flight will bring back 175 Pakistanis stuck in Kuala Lumpur for the last 16 days.

The flight will also take along Malaysian and Singapore diplomatic staff and citizens.

The third flight, scheduled for April 11, will also take French citizens out of Pakistan.

On April 12, a relief flight will set off for Tokyo, carrying Japanese citizens and basic need items.

Around 200 stranded Pakistanis will be repatriated from Bangkok through a relief flight on April 13.

The schedule for flights was announced after the Pakistan Airline Pilots Association (PALPA) resolved its dispute with PIA over the alleged non-provision of safety equipment to airline staff members.

The pilots' association had earlier boycotted flight operations over safety concerns.

Following the decision, the PIA administration directed those wishing to board these flights to approach the office of the national airline.

The airline spokesperson noted that according to the strategy, all repatriation flights will initially land at the Islamabad airport.

“Once the flights land, all passengers will be tested at the airport lounges and transferred to a local hotel for six hours,” he said.

“Passengers who are tested negative will be allowed to proceed home, while others will be shifted to a quarantine,” he added.

All flights will be regularly disinfected and PIA will observe protocols to ensure the safety of its crew.

On Thursday, a PIA flight brought back 71 Pakistanis from Manchester.

Another flight of the national flag carrier returned from London to Islamabad with the crew members only.