The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has announced a mega flights operation to bring back over 25,000 stranded Pakistanis from Saudi Arabia and UAE during the next week, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Saturday.

According to PIA spokesman Abdullah Khan, the airline will operate over 100 flights for this mega operation. The decision was taken in the wake of excessive passenger load on PIA offices to buy repatriation tickets in these countries. PIA Spokesperson said flights have been sold within minutes through offices, agents or websites and many people left behind to get the tickets.

The PIA sought special permission from the government for its mega operation as it was facing pressure due to unavailability of tickets to the passengers owing to a low number of flights amid great demand. The tickets PIA offered sold within minutes after their offering putting more pressure on its booking offices and most of the passengers were then unable to buy tickets.

During the next week. the PIA will bring back 10,000 Pakistanis from Saudi Arabia and 15,000 Pakistanis from UAE by operating over 100 flights to these two countries. All the PIA planes will fly empty to these countries.

PIA has now arranged enough flights ensuring that tickets will be easily available to all the passengers who wanted to come back to the country.

The TV channel reported that PIA offices are closed in most areas due to lockdown restrictions imposed by the authorities.

PIA spokesperson Abdullah Khan said tickets can be obtained from PIA offices, websites or agents in Pakistan. He expressed the hope that most Pakistanis will return home through these flights and the pressure will be released.

It is pertinent to note that Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) on Saturday announced the resumption of all international flight operations except from the Gwadar and Turbat airports.

Sharing this important announcement, the Civil Aviation Authority in a series of tweets said, “Government of Pakistan has been pleased to authorise International Flight Operations to/from All International Airports of Pakistan except Gwadar and Turbat airports, with effect from June 20, 2020, 0001 PST.”