134 expatriates return from Yemen, foreign nationals rescued

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A special flight of the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), PK 7006, carrying 134 expatriate Pakistanis from Yemen, arrived at Benizir Bhutto International Airport late on Sunday.

According to Foreign Office spokespersons Tasnim Aslam, 850 Pakistanis have so far been rescued. She said 148 citizens were safely evacuated on April 4.

The Pakistani nationals who were stranded in Al Mukalla, another Yemeni city, are on way back home on board a Pakistan Navy’s vessel, Aslat. She said 35 foreign nationals, eight Chinese, 11 Indians and four British nationals were also on board the naval vessel.

PNS Aslat is scheduled to dock at Karachi port on April 7. The rescued nationals which include the Indian nationals will arrive in Karachi. The Indian government has thanked Islamabad for its humanitarian gesture.

Moreover, the FO spokeswoman said that 12 Pakistanis were transported from Yemen to Muscat where the Pakistani embassy will see about sending them to Pakistan. She said all possible means are being utilised for early and safe evacuation of all remaining Pakistanis in Yemen. She added that a Pakistan Navy vessel is also due at Al-Hudeida to evacuate 34 Pakistanis.

A spokesman of Civil Aviation Authority has said that Airbus A-310 of PIA landed at Sana’a International Airport on Sunday. Around 180 stranded Pakistanis from different parts of conflict hit Yemen have gathered at Sana’a airport waiting for boarding on plane.

The capital of Yemen’s south-eastern Hadramawt province, Mokallah, is now almost entirely under the control of al-Qaeda militants.

Airlifting of stranded Pakistanis in Yemen started on the special directives of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. He himself is monitoring the evacuation process.