Third phase started on Tuesday: Government will bring back 5,000 stranded Pakistanis from abroad

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has said that the government will bring back 5,000 stranded Pakistani nationals from abroad weekly in the third phase, which started on Tuesday. The foreign minister was speaking to Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on National Security Division Moeed Yusuf who met with him here Tuesday, and discussed the issues pertaining to the quick return of the stranded Pakistanis in various countries due to the Covid-19 pandemic situations.

Qureshi said that the third phase started on Tuesday, and during the phase 5,000 Pakistanis would be brought back weekly on special flights from various countries. He said that with cooperation of the provinces, the capacity would further be increased to bring back more Pakistanis waiting in various countries to return home. He said that the testing and quarantine facilities at the airports across the country had been upgraded with a view to effectively contain the outbreak of the virus.

"On one hand, we are making efforts to prevent the local transmission of the coronavirus, while on the other hand, efforts are being made to mitigate the economic impact of the situation," the foreign minister said.