British High Commissioner Christian Turner said on Sunday that he has requested Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) to start commercial flights to the United Kingdom.

In a video conference with London-based Pakistani journalists, Turner said the High Commission had received 5,000 emails in a few days from the British nationals stuck in Pakistan.

He said they are planning to send aged, special persons and people with healthcare to the UK on priority basis. Britain’s one of the world’s best health systems is under stress keeping in view the current situation regarding coronavirus pandemic, he added.

He said they are mulling chartered flights if the PIA does not opt for the commercial flights. He said the chartered flights will fly on those routes which have no commercial flights, he added.

The journey on chartered flights will not be free, he said.

The envoy said they will take out 4,000 British nationals from Pakistan. “People having fever and cough will have to undergo screening. People diagnosed with coronavirus will not be allowed to travel,” he added.

The High Commission will provide every possible help to the British nationals stuck in Pakistan, Turner said.