Pakistan will resume normal flight operations from Sunday. Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development underlined that priority would be initially given to blue-collar workers stuck in the Gulf region.

In a tweet, the ministry said: “Normal Flight operations will start at 25 capacity after 20 June. Priority will initially be given to labour in GCC. Plans about other countries will be updated on our channels as they come in”

https://twitter.com/mophrd/status/1273856784424407040

On June 16, Prime Minister Imran Khan okayed the resumption of international flights after Special Assistant to PM on Overseas Pakistanis Sayed Zulfikar Bukhari took up the matter with him.

The matter was also discussed in the federal cabinet meeting where Zulfi apprised his colleagues about the hardships faced by expats. On which, the prime minister directed relevant authorities to devise a strategy regarding repatriation of overseas Pakistanis.

According to the plan, the flights will only operate from Gulf countries at the initial stages. Later, Pakistanis would be brought back from other countries as well.

Prime Minister Imran Khan said that overseas Pakistanis were close to his heart and that they could not be left alone at this critical time. Millions of expats have lost their jobs due to virus pandemic, he said, adding that "we understand the pain that they are going through".

On Friday, the government launched an online portal to assist those expatriates who have lost jobs abroad due to coronavirus.

Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development noted that online registration offers better prospects of re-employment, certified training and financial assistance for the distressed.

“This is for overseas workers who have lost their jobs. Anyone who is laid off and returning back can register,” the ministry said on Twitter.

https://twitter.com/mophrd/status/1273698098695585792