The government is planning to operate more flights of the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) as well as some foreign airlines to bring back the Pakistanis stranded in various countries.

According to the latest reports, more than 750 Pakistanis are awaiting evacuation from Washington, one of the many US states hit hard by the coronavirus outbreak. Sources say the United States has allowed Pakistan to operate flights to take the stranded Pakistanis home.

Keeping in view this latest development, the Pakistan Embassy in Washington is considering different airlines to fly these stranded Pakistanis home from the US capital. There are reports that Pakistani authorities are in talks with the Qatar Airways to bring back the Pakistanis stranded in Washington by a special flight.

Also, for the first time, PIA is going to operate special flights to Australia and the South Korean city of Seoul. PIA special flights will depart from Islamabad for Australia, Germany and South Korea on April 23, 24 and 25. PIA’s special flight PK 8962 will depart from Islamabad for the Australian city of Melbourne to bring back more than 200 Pakistanis stranded there. PIA will also operate a special flight for Germany’s Frankfurt city to bring back more than 2,500 Pakistanis stranded there through PK 8749.

A special PIA flight will bring back more than 200 Pakistanis stranded in the South Korean city of Seoul. According to the sources, the flight will be scheduled after a green signal from the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

Sources say the PIA is now preparing to operate flights to Australia, Seoul and Germany and Boeing 777 will be used in this operation. As per Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) instructions, all inbound flights from international stations coming to Pakistan will terminate at Islamabad International Airport only. 

The government has brought back thousands of Pakistanis stranded in different countries in recent days amid the coronavirus outbreak intensifying in every nook and corner of the world.