(Karachi) Prime Minister Imran Khan has approved commencement of international flight operations in phases to facilitate overseas Pakistanis, media reported on Tuesday.

The decision has been taken during the cabinet meeting which was chaired by the PM in Islamabad. In the first phase, the flight operation will start for Arab countries which will bring back stranded Pakistanis.

The PM ordered the officials to prepare a plan in this regard. "We will not leave overseas Pakistanis alone in this difficult time," Imran stated.

He said, "Thousands of people have been rendered jobless due to coronavirus pandemic and the government will facilitate them in every possible way."

Pakistan has initiated a special repatriation operation to bring back thousands of citizens stranded across the globe due to the coronavirus pandemic.

There are over 100,000 Pakistanis stranded in 88 countries, with a majority in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia. Several countries, including the US, UAE, and Saudi Arabia, have given permission for special flights by the national flag carrier Pakistan International Airlines (PIA).