ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The return of all stranded Pakistanis in Yemen is the top priority of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and the government, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) lawmaker in the National Assembly Tariq Fazal Chaudhry said.
His remarks came when the first phase of the evacuation of Pakistanis stranded in Yemen was completed with the return of 503 compatriots from Al-Hudaydah in a special Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) plane.
The PIA plane first landed at the Karachi Airport where it unloaded 164 passengers on Sunday night. Later, it proceeded to Islamabad with 339 passengers.
On the occasion, the Federal Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid and the PML-N MNA Tariq Fazal Chaudhry welcomed the returning countrymen at the Islamabad Airport.
Speaking on the occasion, the information minister said the return of these Pakistanis was made possible due to personal efforts of the prime minister.
The minister said that the prime minister is directly monitoring the evacuation process. He said that the government will continue
its efforts to bring back all stranded Pakistanis.
The Pakistani envoy to Yemen Dr. Irfan Yusuf who also accompanied the returnees, said that about 105 Pakistanis are still stranded in Aden city.
Another PIA plane will proceed to Yemen tomorrow to bring back the returning countrymen while a Pakistan Navy ship has also sailed for Yemen to assist in the evacuation of stranded Pakistanis. The ship will remain in the Gulf of Aden to deal with any situation.
All steps being taken for repatriation of Pakistanis from Yemen: FO
Meanwhile, the Foreign Office Spokesperson Tasnim Aslam said that all possible steps are being taken for early repatriation of Pakistanis stranded in Yemen.
In an interview on Monday, she said that naval ships have been dispatched to Aden to bring back 200 Pakistani citizens gathered there.
The spokesperson said that it has also been decided to evacuate Pakistani citizens detained in Yemeni prisons. She said that Yemeni authorities have been contacted for repatriation of Pakistani prisoners.
Tasnim Aslam said that the prisoners will complete their imprisonment term in Pakistan.
On Thursday, a Saudi-led regional coalition launched a military campaign “Operation Decisive Storm” against the Iran-backed Shiite Houthi rebels who have taken control of major cities in the West of Yemen.
