Mass evacuation from Middle East not required, NA body told

MoFA gives briefing about number of Pakistanis stranded in Middle Eastern countries

ISLAMABAD: Senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) on Tuesday assured the National Assembly Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistanis that there was no situation requiring a mass evacuation of Pakistani nationals from the Middle East.

The head of the MoFA’s Crisis Management Cell gave a detailed briefing to the NA committee about the number of Pakistanis stranded in various Middle Eastern countries due to the ongoing conflict and about the efforts being made to repatriate them.

In the meeting, presided over by PPP MNA Syed Agha Rafiullah, the committee members expressed their serious concerns over the manifold increase in airline fares, particularly by Pakistan International Airlines (PIA).

The ministry official informed the committee that Pakistanis were facing fuel shortages and transport problems in various countries, adding that the absence of public transport had created further difficulties for them.

“Gulf missions reported large registered populations but comparatively manageable evacuee numbers,” read a statement issued by the NA Secretariat.

“The Mission in Qatar recorded over 10,000 registrations with 215 people classified as actively stranded (most being assisted), and the Mission in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) reported over 8,500 registrations, including 4,543 Pakistani passengers in transit; and 4,400 of these have left UAE via 40 commercial flights,” it stated.

The MoFA official told the meeting that the number of Pakistanis in Azerbaijan was not huge. Facilities have been provided to 113 Pakistanis, while 58 have already returned to Pakistan.

During the meeting, PPP MNA Mahreen Razzaq Bhutto questioned the officials: “If everything is normal, why is evacuation being discussed? At least take a clear position on whether the situation is fine.”

At one point during the meeting, Bhutto remarked, “The aircraft worth Rs11 billion that Maryam Nawaz purchased should also be used now.”

The committee member suggested that the aircraft should be used to bring stranded Pakistanis back home.

To this, Rafiullah, heading the panel, remarked jokingly, “Does that mean only 12 people will be brought back in it?”

PML-Q’s Muhammad Ilyas Chaudhry, who had contested the elections as a PTI-backed candidate, also supported Bhutto’s suggestion.

An official of the Pakistani diplomatic mission in Abu Dhabi also briefed the NA panel. Speaking about the two Pakistanis who died in incidents related to the interception of missiles — one each in Abu Dhabi and Dubai — the official said both were drivers by profession.

The NA committee was informed that around 2.5 million Pakistanis live in Saudi Arabia, where the situation was tense but stable.

Noting that around 350,000 Pakistanis reside in Qatar, the ministry said the situation was stable, although some concerns remained.

According to MoFA, the security situation in Iraq was tense in Iraq, where around 40,000 Pakistanis reside.

Iranian drone and missile attacks on US bases, including near Baghdad Airport, have been reported.

Arrangements are underway for the return of 1,277 Pakistanis, including about 450 pilgrims. Transit visas through Saudi Arabia and Turkiye were being arranged for their return, said the officials.

Iraq’s airspace is closed, so Pakistanis are being brought back through land routes via Saudi Arabia and Turkiye.

The committee was told that the situation in Kuwait — where 101,976 Pakistanis live — was tense but under control, though there were concerns about possible drone and missile attacks.

Kuwait’s airspace is closed, but no Pakistani is reported stranded.

In Oman, where around 382,000 Pakistanis reside, the situation was stable.

Bahrain’s airspace is closed, but Pakistanis can travel by land through Saudi Arabia. Staff Report