A special plane of the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) carrying 257 stranded Pakistani nationals arrived on Saturday from Iraq. Ambassador of Pakistan to Iraq Sajid Bilal saw off the passengers at the airport.

Most of the stranded Pakistanis in Iraq worked for oil and gas companies and were unable to return home after international flights were suspended. Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Overseas Pakistanis Zulfi Bukhari arranged the flight. Ambassador Sajid Bilal lauded the Iraqi government for facilitating the repatriation of the stranded Pakistanis.

Federal Minister for Aviation Division Ghulam Sarwar Khan said 7,000 stranded Pakistani nationals would be repatriated prior Eidul Fitr. He said thousands of stranded Pakistanis, including students, workers, members of Tableeghi Jamaat and pilgrims had been repatriated.

The minister further maintained that the Aviation Division operated 181 inbound flights, adding that at least 250 Pakistani students from Wuhan would be repatriated through special flights on Monday.