Apr 10 , 2015
News
Evacuation mission culminates as 1019 stranded Pakistanis brought home from Yemen: FO
INP
ISLAMABAD - 1019 stranded Pakistanis have been evacuated from Yemen in the last ten days by three special flights, three naval evacuations and a land evacuation, through neighboring Oman, there may still be an estimated 100-150 Pakistanis left in the country, these are mostly the ones who have chosen to stay on.
The emergency evacuation operation has thus effectively culminated on 7th April, 2015, since we do not have any more compatriots registered for evacuation, a statement by the foreign office said here Friday. This was the first wide scale evacuation from Yemen, through special flights and Navy ships, during the current crisis, and the first to conclude successfully, safely bringing back all nationals wanting to evacuate at a minimal cost to the national exchequer. It would not have been possible to carry out such a formidable undertaking, without the un-interrupted guidance and support of the Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, and the excellent coordination among all concerned departments, including, Civil Aviation Authority, PIA, Ministry of Defence (Pakistan Navy in particular), Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis, as well as, our Embassies in Sana’a, Muscat, Addis Ababa, Beijing and Riyadh.
There were around 3000 Pakistanis residing in Yemen before the current crisis. However, in response to various advisories sent by the mission, in the wake of evolving security situation, the community members started leaving Yemen gradually, and only around 1200 Pakistanis remained in the country when air strikes campaign by GCC coalition commenced on March 26, 2015. Over 900 of these registered with the embassy for immediate evacuation. They were mostly located in Sana’a, Al Hudeida, Aden and Mokallah. The statement said that seamless implementation of a historic emergency evacuation mission, under the prime minister’s leadership and supervision, has ensured a safe return for all our stranded citizens in Yemen and earned laurels for the country, with a number of foreign nationals having been rescued and returned to their countries.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk