KARACHI/ADEN:
After receiving clearance from the Yemeni officials, a Chinese vessel will transport 182 Pakistani expatriates to Djibouti from Aden, the worst ravaged city in conflict-weary Yemen, according to sources.
60 expatriates belong to Lahore, 55 to Karachi, 33 to Islamabad and 13 passengers hail from Peshawar.
Earlier on April 1, Pakistan had made arrangements to send second plane to Djibouti. But, the Chinese ship was not given a go-ahead by the Yemen authorities to carry out the evacuation operation.
It should be mentioned here that an earlier flight of national flag carrier brought back about 500 people over the previous weekend.
Foreign Office spokesperson Tasnim Aslam said in a statement that departure of the special aircraft is hinged on the arrival in Djibouti of Chinese vessel that reached Aden the previous morning.
She said, “While all arrangements were in place and the Pakistani nationals awaiting evacuation had their immigration in time, the Yemeni authorities have allotted a time slot for embarkation to the Chinese ship only for tomorrow morning.”
The special aircraft will now fly to Djibouti this afternoon to coincide with the arrival of Chinese vessel, she clarified adding all Pakistani nationals have been directed to arrive in Aden from various places in Yemen, so that they could be evacuated through naval vessels.
Pakistan also sent a ship to evacuate more Pakistanis from Yemen. The Pakistan Navy’s ship will is expected to dock near Al Mukalla at 8am this morning.
The government in Djibouti also agreed to extend all requisite support to Pakistan, making available all facilities to Pakistani ambassador in Ethiopia to set up a camp office in Djibouti to receive rescued Pakistanis and see about their immigration formalities.