ISLAMABAD: Parliamentary Secretary on Foreign Affairs Andleeb Abbas has said that around 95 percent of stranded Pakistanis had been brought back home in about two and half months in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The parliamentary secretary informed this to the National Assembly on Wednesday during the question hour session of the house.

She said that about 250,000 stranded Pakistanis were repatriated from across the world.

She said that majority of Pakistani zaireen (pilgrims) had also returned from Iran.

She said that around 25 zaireen were still living in Iran with their relatives and friends in Qom and Mashhad.

She said holy shrines in those cities were currently closed due to the second wave of Covid-19 in Iran.

Andleeb Abbas said the remaining Pakistani zaireen were likely to return to the country by next flight of Iran Air from Tehran to Karachi tomorrow and via Taftan border.

The parliamentary secretary said that Pakistan Embassy in Tehran and consulates in Mashhad and Zahidan were in constant touch with the Pakistani community to ensure their wellbeing and their return to Pakistan.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020