Special flights bring back over 500 stranded Pakistanis from Libya

Total figure of evacuated Pakistanis from Libya rises to 5,210

ISLAMABAD: Two special flights arriving from Tripoli in Lahore, on September 13 and 14 brought back 525 stranded Pakistanis in Libya, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Monday.

While the total number of Pakistanis airlifted from Libya rises to 2,510, those evacuated through land routes from bordering countries has reached to a total of 2,700 – thereby bringing the total figure of successfully evacuated Pakistanis to 5210.

With the onset of the two special flights operated to bring back stranded Pakistanis, the number of the flights rises to 9 -- of which three flights were operated by the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) while the rest were operated by Air Libya.

Over 800 destitute Pakistanis are still being sustained in relief camps set up by the Pakistan Embassy, waiting to be brought. Further, additional special flights are being planned accordingly to ensure they are brought back to Pakistan.

Aside from the evacuation mission being undertaken by the Pakistan Embassy in Tripoli, efforts are also being made to ensure the release of detained Pakistanis in Libya. The process for the release of 226 detainees out of 300 has been initiated, while the release of the remaining prisoners is also being followed.