Government in touch with authorities on Pakistanis stuck in transit: Moeed Yusuf

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on National Security Division Moeed W Yusuf on Sunday assured the nation that the government was in touch with the authorities of those countries where Pakistani passengers are stuck in transit.

In a press conference along with Dr Zafar Mirza — the premier's adviser on health — Yusuf said that they were in touch with the airlines and authorities in UAE, Qatar Thailand and Turkey and were working on a solution to resolve their problems.

"Most of these passengers do not have a coronavirus certificate," said Yusuf while talking about the mandatory document that is required to travel to Pakistan now. He also urged people not to take flights to Pakistan till April 4 because of airspace closure. 

Earlier, it was reported that due to the closure of the airports in Pakistan, close to 100 Pakistanis have been stranded while in transit at the Dubai airport.

The closure of the Pakistani airspace has confined Pakistanis to the transit lounge. According to the Pakistani consulate in Dubai, the passengers had connecting flights to Pakistan.

Deputy Consul General Guyan Chand stated that they have requested the government to launch a special flight to bring back the stranded Pakistanis. However, he added that if the government does not agree on sending a flight then they will have to stay at the airport for 14 days.

The consulate, in a tweet, also shared that it has set up a round-the-clock help desk to help the stranded passengers. It added that the consul general and all officers have been active since Saturday and are in contact with UAE and Pakistani authorities for the citizens' well being.

In light of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the government announced on Saturday it was suspending all international flights to Pakistan for two weeks.

According to the government advisory shared by Yousuf at the time, the suspension will be effective from March 21 to April 4.

Also read: International flight operations to Pakistan limited to Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad

Yusuf, PM's adviser on health Dr Zafar Mirza and Chairman National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Lieutenant General Muhammad Afzal had addressed a press conference in Islamabad yesterday.

The officials apprised the nation about the measures being taken to curb the spread of coronavirus, which has infected more than 500 people in Pakistan so far.

Yusuf said that a few international flights of Pakistan International Airlines will be allowed to return and that the decision will come into effect from Saturday night, 8pm.

The premier's aide on security, while calling it a difficult decision, had said that the ban is temporary and it does not include cargo and diplomats in Pakistan.