427 Pakistanis safely reach Port Sudan for repatriation: FO

Around 427 Pakistanis safely reached Port Sudan and are being lodged before arrangements for their onward journey are coordinated, the Foreign Office (FO) said on Monday.

The spokesperson, in a statement, said that the FO continued to follow the developments in Sudan and was working with Pakistan’s Missions in the region to provide relief to Pakistanis there.

The sudden eruption of violence between the military and the well-armed Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group on April 15 has triggered a humanitarian crisis and killed 420 people in Sudan.

Along with millions of Sudanese without access to basic services and trapped in their homes, thousands of foreign diplomats, aid workers, students and their families found themselves stuck in a war zone last week.

A few days ago, Foreign Secretary Asad Majeed Khan had held a follow-up virtual meeting with Pakistan’s Missions in Sudan and neighbouring countries to discuss modalities for the safe evacuation of Pakistanis from the war-torn country.

Representatives from the Pakistan International Airline (PIA) and Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and other relevant agencies had also joined the meeting.

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Earlier, Saudi Arabia’s Embassy in Pakistan announced the evacuation of 91 people, including Pakistanis, from Sudan on Sunday.

According to a statement from the embassy, the operation was carried out by the Royal Saudi Naval Forces with the support of various branches of the armed forces on the directives of the Kingdom’s leadership.

“We are pleased to announce the safe arrival of the citizens of the Kingdom who were evacuated from the Republic of Sudan as well as several nationals of brotherly and friendly countries, including diplomats and international officials,” it said.

Sixty-six people from brotherly and friendly countries including Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Tunisia, Pakistan, India, Bulgaria, Bangladesh, the Philippines, Canada, and Burkina Faso have been evacuated.

Read All US embassy staff evacuated from war-torn Sudan: White House

It added that the Kingdom worked to provide all the necessary needs of foreign nationals in preparation for their departure to their respective countries

Bilawal thanks KSA

Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari expressed profound gratitude for Saudi Arabia's assistance in evacuating Pakistani nationals from Sudan in a telephonic conversation with his Saudi counterpart Faisal bin Farhan.

Both ministers agreed that the two countries will closely coordinate to further facilitate evacuations from Sudan.

FM Bilawal also conveyed Eid greetings to Prince Faisal bin Farhan and wished him good health and happiness as well progress and prosperity to the brotherly people of Saudi Arabia.

The two sides also exchanged views on regional and global issues of mutual interest.

Bilawal expressed confidence that the resumption of the Kingdom’s diplomatic relations with Iran will lead to regional peace and prosperity.