113,154 Pakistanis repatriated from different countries due to coronavirus pandemic, says official

Tariq Butt, Correspondent / Agencies

Pakistan said on Thursday that 113,154 nationals had been repatriated, who were stranded abroad due to the outbreak of COVID-19.

Pakistan started repatriation of its nationals in March in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic in different parts of the world.

“So far, 113,154 Pakistani nationals have been repatriated from different parts of the world. We thank all the governments of these countries for their cooperation in facilitating the repatriation of our nationals,” Foreign Office spokesperson Aisha Farooqui said.

Giving a break-up of recent repatriation at her weekly briefing in Islamabad, Farooqui said in the past few days, 257 Pakistanis were repatriated from Malaysia, Cambodia, Singapore and Brunei, 9,504 from Dubai and Northern Emirates, 1,430 from Jeddah, 25 from Dushanbe and 96 from Kazakhstan.

Farooqui said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Pakistani missions continue to facilitate and assist fellow compatriots all across the world in order to bring them back to Pakistan safely and in a dignified manner.

“Our embassies and consulates are working round the clock in facilitating repatriation of our citizens back home, in accordance with a comprehensive repatriation plan devised in consultation with all stake holders,” the spokesperson said.

Meanwhile, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on National Health Services Dr Zafar Mirza said Pakistani and overseas healthcare workers can register on Yaran-e-Watan's official website.

He thanked Association of Physicians of Pakistani Descent of North America (APPNA), APPS Britain and APPNE for partnering with Yaran-e-Watan to provide this online service to frontline workers.

Mirza told reporters that the number of COVID-19 cases in Pakistan are decreasing. He said the monsoon season would further facilitiate the reduction in the number of cases. He said smart lockdown is the only solution to control the spread the contagion and improve the national economy.

He said 128 laboratories have been established across Pakistan, as he urged people to visit hospitals for COVID-19 testing.