Pakistan ramps up repatriation operation for its citizens in UAE

Two dozen of flights are scheduled until end of this month

A Pakistani citizen undergoes a medical screening at Dubai International Airport. Courtesy: Consulate General of Pakistan in Dubai 

Thousands of Pakistanis in UAE are set to be repatriated, as 24 more flights have been scheduled from Tuesday until end of May.

A 10-day schedule was released by the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resources Development, which listed flight details from May 22 to May 31.

Alhamdulillah, the Consulate has repatriated 5,883 stranded Pakistanis to date through 26 PIA Special Flights. The Special Flight Operations will continue. Those who have already registered with the Consulate are requested to wait for our call.@SMQureshiPTI @ForeignOfficePk pic.twitter.com/VuKn4qyZbD

— Pakistan Consulate General Dubai (@PakinDubai_) May 14, 2020

More than 60,000 Pakistanis in the UAE registered with the Consulate General of Pakistan in Dubai to return home.

As of May 15, a total of 5,883 citizens had been repatriated on 26 special Pakistan International Airlines flights.

The consulate told The National one flight will depart on Tuesday from Dubai and another will take off from Abu Dhabi on May 21.

However, the consulate warned citizens that all flights are “subject to change due to operational reasons and procedures”.

Those who wish to return are required to submit their request to the consulate. They will be contacted by officials and will be informed on how to move forward with purchasing the flight tickets.

Only PIA is selling the tickets and the consulate has previously warned citizens against scam artists pretending to be "special agents” selling false tickets.

On the whole, Pakistan is ramping up its repatriation operation. More than 10,000 citizens will be brought back from 47 countries this month.

A nun wearing a face mask looks up at the window of Pope Francis' studio overlooking St Peter's square as he appears to give his blessing after the Angelus prayer, at the Vatican. AP Photo

Full list of flights during May

The emirate where each flight will depart from has yet to be revealed.

May 21

PIA flight to leave from Abu Dhabi

May 22

PIA flights to Faisalabad and Karachi

One Air Arabia flight to Lahore

May 23

One flight to Multan on a UAE airline

PIA flight to Faisalabad

May 24

One PIA flight to Peshawar

May 26

PIA flight to Lahore

PIA flight to Karachi

PIA flight to Peshawar

May 27

PIA flight to Multan

May 28

PIA flight to Islamabad

PIA flight to Multan

May 29

PIA flight to Karachi

PIA flight to Islamabad

May 30

PIA flights to Karachi, Islamabad, Faisalabad, Multan and Peshawar

May 31

PIA flights to Multan, Peshawar and Faisalabad