Abdul Basit
In the latest decision by the Government of Pakistan, international and domestic flights operations is suspended until April 21.
According to a notification issued by the country’s Aviation Authority, the Pakistan government has extended the suspension of domestic and international flight operations in the country until April 21 in a bid to contain the COVID-19 outbreak.
“As per the decision of the Government of Pakistan, the suspension of International and domestic flight operations as effected earlier has been extended up to Tuesday April 21, 11.59 pm,” the notification said.
In its last notification, Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) had said that diplomatic, special/cargo flights and flights of the national carrier to/from Pakistan holding special approval from the competent authority for transporting stranded passengers would be exempted from the ban.
The decision comes as Pakistan has registered a total of 4,474 confirmed coronavirus cases with 65 fatalities.
Flights from UAE
There is a strong possibility that there will be some special exceptions for flights from the UAE to bring back Pakistanis stranded in the UAE. Pakistan consulate in Dubai has already started collecting the data of Pakistanis want to go back to homeland.
More than 35,000 Pakistanis have registered with the Pakistan consulate in Dubai in a bid to return to their homeland, Consul General Ahmed Amjad Ali confirmed a few days ago.
Ali informed that preparations are underway to bring back the stranded Pakistanis.
“Tourists, unemployed and the elderly will be given preference,” he said describing the criteria for the evacuation.
He added that bringing Pakistanis back in such large numbers is a huge challenge for them.
Meanwhile, Dubai authorities have stated that they are ready to operate flights for the Pakistanis and waiting for permission in this regard.
Pakistan is a big labour supplier to the UAE, with more than a million Pakistanis living and working in the country, according to Pakistani diplomats.
Since March, Dubai has been under lockdown as the UAE ramped up measures to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
In March, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on National Security Division Moeed W Yusuf had assured the nation that the government was in touch with the authorities of those countries where Pakistani passengers are stuck in transit.
On April 7, Dubai’s flydubai said that it has opened ticket booking for flights to Pakistan and India from next week to repatriate stranded people in the UAE, but it’s subject respective governments approvals.
“A Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) sets out the flight restrictions that are in place between the UAE and India in response to Covid-19. Flydubai has opened flights for sale to India and Pakistan to allow repatriations for their nationals from April 15 and will operate subject to government approval,” Flydubai spokesperson said in a statement on Tuesday.
Currently, thousands of Indian and Pakistani nationals are stranded in the UAE to suspension of flights. – abdulbasit@theuaenews.com
