Flights resumption, stranded Pakistanis: Inter-ministerial meeting finalises proposals for NCC

A high-level inter-ministerial meeting at the Foreign Office Friday finalised its proposals for final approval by the National Coordination Committee (NCC) with regard to resumption of international flights from April 4, and other matters related to Pakistanis stuck in various countries due to coronavirus pandemic.
Chaired by Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, the meeting was attended by Federal Minister for Aviation, Ghulam Sarwar Khan, Prime Minister's Special Assistant on Health Services Dr Zafar Mirza, Prime Minister Special Assistant on Overseas Pakistanis Syed Zulfiqar Bukhari, Special Assistant on National Security Division Dr Moeed Yusuf, Foreign Secretary Sohail Mahmood, Secretary Aviation Division Hassan Nasir Jami, Chairman NDMA Lt Gen. Mohammad Afzal, Executive Director NIH General Amir Akram, CEO Shaukat Khanum Memorial Hospital Dr Faisal Sultan, and senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
According to a statement issued by the Foreign Office, the meeting reviewed various aspects of the problems being faced by Pakistani expatriates awaiting repatriation from different countries, and the possible resumption of the flight operations after April 4.
Qureshi told the meeting that the issue was also discussed at length during the meeting of the NCC chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan.
He said that the NCC had decided to suspend the international flight operation to prevent the potential spread of coronavirus in the country from foreign countries, adding that a sub-committee had already been constituted to review the situation.
Qureshi pointed out that currently the flight operation was suspended due to lockdown in many countries.
Referring to the Pakistani students in Wuhan, China, he said despite the pressure from their parents and the media, Pakistan decided not to bring back Pakistani students from China, adding that today the students were praising the government's decision.
However, the meeting deliberated upon various proposals with the regard to resumption of the flight operation from April 4, and decided that the proposals would be placed before the NCC for final approval.
The foreign minister further said that on the one hand, Pakistan's capacity was increasing to deal with such major challenge and at the same time the number of infected cases was also increasing.
"We have to constantly monitor the situation," he added.
He said that important decisions were made at the NCC on Thursday including the one to improve communication between the federal government and the provinces.
He said that a command and control centre had been set up for this purpose, adding that provinces had been asked to nominate their own representatives.
He said that lockdown was an important requirement of the time, which no one could deny, but they had to ensure that the public needs were regularly met during the lockdown.
He said that Federal Minister for Religious Affairs had received a letter from Saudi authorities, asking the government to stop the Hajj arrangements as the Kingdom was reviewing the situation.
He said that the Saudis fear that gathering of millions of people in one place might pose risk of further outbreak of the disease.
"At present, they [Saudis] are examining the whole situation and there has been no final decision yet," he added.
Dr Zafar Mirza briefed the participants about the nature of the COVID-19 pandemic and the risk assessment in that regard.
Chairman NDMA Lt Gen. Mohammad Afzal informed the meeting about the facilities of conducting test and quarantine facilities as well as other preparations at the airports to assist the passengers upon their arrival.