Over 62,000 Pakistanis awaiting return, FM told

ECMU DG says 11,529 Pakistanis have been brought back so far

ISLAMABAD: A total of 11,529 Pakistanis had been brought back from abroad after the coronavirus outbreak across the world, while more than 62,000 others were awaiting their return, the Emergency Crises Management Unit (ECMU) at the Foreign Office said on Tuesday.

ECMU Director General Salman Athar, while giving a briefing to Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi, said that a total of 62,709 Pakistani citizens had registered themselves for repatriation from abroad.

The foreign minister visited different sections of the unit and put different queries to the officials and employees to ascertain performance of the unit, a press release said. He also reviewed the steps taken to resolve the issues and complaints of expatriate Pakistanis which were received by the unit.

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On the occasion, Qureshi said that they were fully cognisant of the issues and problems faced by the expatriates and the government was utilising all resources for their immediate return in a phased manner. He also appreciated the performance of the unit.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan High Commission in Colombo coordinated with the Pakistan government and the local Sri Lankan authorities for the successful return of 50 stranded Pakistanis. The Pakistanis citizens returned via a Sri Lankan Airlines flight on Tuesday morning.

(WITH INPUT FROM APP)