PIA to run extra flights for repatriation of stranded Pakistanis

National flag carrier to operate 32 flights to various countries to bring back the nationals

ISLAMABAD:

The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) on Sunday announced that it will run extra flights to repatriate the Pakistanis stranded abroad due to Covid-19 travel restrictions.

According to the plan, the national flag carrier will operate 32 flights to bring back nationals before the forthcoming Eidul Azha.

The management of the airline said that they would use Boeing 777 aircraft to repatriate those stuck in Kabul.

The PIA will operate flights on July 12 and 16 for Afghanistan, with five special flights planned for the nationals stuck in middle eastern countries, it added.

Those stranded in Dubai and Abu Dhabi will also be repatriated. PIA has added 10 more flights to its routine operation for Saudi Arabia to bring back nationals.

Read Emirates suspends flights from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka till July 15

The airline will also operate eight special flights for Tashkent, utilising Airbus 320 aircraft for the purpose, and it'll operate a special flight to bring back students stranded in Bishkek.

Earlier this month, Minister for Information Fawad Chaudhry said that PIA had significantly increased the number of its international flights to repatriate Pakistanis stuck abroad.

Fawad added that the number of international flights had been increased by the Minister for Aviation Ghulam Sarwar Khan on Prime Minister Imran Khan's instructions after holding detailed meetings with the relevant officials of PIA and Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

Express News had earlier reported that thousands of Pakistanis flocked to the airports and complained of mistreatment by the airlines.

According to the report, 36,000 Pakistanis had been stuck in Doha, while 12,000 in Turkey, awaiting a homeward flight.