Covid-19: PM Imran Khan says allowing international flights to facilitate overseas Pakistanis

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Imran Khan, Pakistan, Covid-19, coronavirus,

Dubai - The prime minister praised the role of philanthropist Pakistanis in helping their countrymen impacted by the Covid-19.

By Waheed Abbas

Published: Sat 20 Jun 2020, 9:26 AM

Last updated: Sat 20 Jun 2020, 7:35 PM

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday said his government is opening up the country's air space for international flights to help overseas Pakistanis who're stranded in foreign countries to return home following the outbreak of Coronavirus.
"Tomorrow, we will partially open airspace for international flights. This is being done specially to help our overseas workers who have suffered the most in this pandemic but have shown great courage and made us proud. We welcome you back home and our government will facilitate you in every way," Imran Khan said a tweet on Saturday morning.

Tomorrow we will partially open airspace for intl flights.This is being done specially to help our Overseas workers who have suffered most in this pandemic but have shown great courage & made us proud. We welcome you back home & our govt will facilitate you in every way.
- Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) June 20, 2020

Pakistan has decided to start international flights from the Gulf countries because the largest chunk of country's diaspora is residing in the Gulf countries. Out of around 8.8 million Pakistanis residing abroad, over half of them are working in the Gulf countries. In the UAE alone, around 1.6 million Pakistanis are working. As many as 80,000 had registered for repatriation with the country's diplomatic authorities.
The prime minister also praised the role of philanthropist Pakistanis in helping their countrymen impacted by the Covid-19.
"I appreciate the philanthropic role played by the Overseas Pakistani community in helping their brothers and sisters abroad during Covid-19. There are many examples where the Pakistani community has been a source of inspiration, helping those around in need," the prime minister said.

I appreciate the philanthropic role played by the Overseas Pakistani community in helping their brothers & sisters abroad during Covid19. There are many examples where the Pakistani community has been a source of inspiration, helping those around in need.
- Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) June 20, 2020

As announced earlier by the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resources Development last week, Pakistanis stranded in the UAE and other countries will have to no longer wait for special flights and they can buy tickets of international airlines to return to their country.
-waheedabbas@khaleejtimes.com