Islamabad – Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar has instructed Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) to coordinate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to ensure the safe and efficient evacuation of Pakistani citizens stranded in the Middle East due to rising tensions.
The directive came during a high-level meeting chaired by Dar to review the ongoing repatriation efforts for Pakistanis currently stuck in Iran and Iraq. Foreign Secretary and other senior officials attended the meeting.
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Dar was briefed on the progress of evacuation operations and future plans. Expressing satisfaction with the efforts so far, he directed the Foreign Office to accelerate repatriation in collaboration with relevant authorities and extend all necessary support to stranded nationals.
PIA’s Special Evacuation Flights
Following the closure of Iranian airspace, PIA launched a special operation to evacuate Pakistanis via Turkmenistan. The first flight, PK-9552, carrying 107 passengers, including men, women, children, and elderly citizens, arrived in Islamabad from Ashgabat at 3 AM.
A PIA spokesperson stated that the national airline acted on government directives, emphasizing that serving the nation in crises is a long-standing tradition. Pakistani embassies in Iran and Turkmenistan played a key role in facilitating the process.
Repatriation via Taftan Border
Meanwhile, Pakistan has intensified efforts to bring back citizens through the Taftan border crossing. Over 1,450 Pakistanis have returned so far, with more than 500 arriving on Tuesday alone.
Levies officials reported that the returnees included pilgrims, businesspeople, laborers, students, and long-term residents of Iran. Around 250 individuals were transported to their hometowns in specially arranged vehicles.
Authorities have set up dedicated teams at Taftan to provide shelter, clean water, medical aid, and immigration assistance. Rakhshan Division Commissioner Muhammad Hamza Shafqaat visited the border to oversee arrangements and assured returnees of full administrative support.
The evacuation operation, supervised by the federal government and disaster management agencies, follows heightened tensions between Iran and Israel, underscoring Pakistan’s commitment to protecting its citizens abroad.
