Nine Pakistanis out of 45 stranded in China due to land-sliding have reached the federal capital through Air China, local media reported on Thursday.
At least 45 Pakistan nationals were stranded in Chinese Tashekuergan after Shahrah-e-Karakoram was blocked at different points due to land-sliding. Nine of the total number were shifted to Islamabad through Air China flight.
Reportedly, a flight between Kashgar and Islamabad was cancelled that added to the situation.
A press release issued by the government earlier stated that embassy concerned was in contact with Chinese Foreign Office and authorities in Xinjiangto for security of the stranded persons.
The department concerned was making efforts for early return of Pakistani citizens.
On April 9, the issue surfaced when Pakistanis, mostly belonging to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) were reported marooned in China.
The people could neither go back to Xinjiang nor enter Pakistan. They had to take up rather expensive rooms in nearby hotels. Being at a high altitude, lower oxygen level was another issue for the people stuck there.
The deserted people had alleged the embassy concerned of not satisfactorily responding to the situation.
According to Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Karakoram Highway and different roads in Gilgit-Baltistan were closed at 175 points due to land-sliding on April 3.
Land-sliding claimed lives in different areas of the country. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), as many as 23 persons were not be rescued from under the rubble in Kohistan’s Kandia after six days prompting locals to offer their funeral prayers and declare the site a graveyard.
