A special Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight from Karachi via Islamabad landed at the Narita International Airport, Tokyo, on Monday with over 100 Japanese and foreign nationals on board, who were stranded in Pakistan due to the coronavirus outbreak.

"A special PIA flight left Pakistan today (Monday, April 13) with 110 Japanese nationals and 25 foreign nationals (24 Pakistanis) on board and has arrived safely in Japan."

Matsuda Kuninori, Ambassador of Japan to Pakistan, has greatly appreciated the support and cooperation extended by the Government of Pakistan, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and the PIA for arranging and operating the special flight to Japan enabling the smooth and safe return of Japanese nationals, and Pakistani residents in Japan, back to their homes.

Ambassador Matsuda in his message of appreciation has thanked all the individuals and departments involved, for their brave efforts to arrange safe return of the Japanese nationals and Pakistani people back to Japan, in spite of challenging and life-threatening circumstances caused by the pandemic. The ambassador renewed his resolve to continue working hand-in-hand with the government and people of Pakistan to defeat the coronavirus pandemic.

The PIA Boeing 777-200ER (registration AP-BMG) special flight PK8855 will fly back 50 Pakistani stranded in Japan.

On Sunday PIA Boeing 777-200ER (registration AP-BMG) departed from Islamabad at 1:46am as special flight PK8855 and landed at Sendai Airport in Tokyo on Monday.

The aircraft carried Japanese nationals who were stranded in Pakistan due to suspension of international flights.

More than 50 Pakistanis stranded in Japan are to be flown by PIA Boeing 777 from Tokyo to Islamabad.

Meanwhile, Egypt Air Boeing 787-9 Dream liner (SU-GEW) arrived in Cairo as chartered flight MS3091 from Islamabad.

From Cairo, the aircraft departed as chartered flight MS3092 to Washington.

Chartered Egypt Air aircraft are transporting US nationals from Pakistan to USA via Egypt.

The PIA formally requested the government to extend the permission for flights operations up to April 18, sources said.

All international flights to Pakistan are suspended until 21 April 2020.

This does not apply to diplomatic, special and flights of national carriers.

They must have a special approval from the competent authority for transporting stranded passengers.

Passengers will be subject to thorough checking as per established procedures (including swab testing, isolation or quarantine).