136 Pakistani nationals stranded in Baghdad reach Islamabad

ISLAMABAD: As many as 136 Pakistani nationals stranded in Baghdad owing to the suspension of airline operations due to coronavirus epidemic, reached Islamabad via a special flight of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) on Wednesday.

According to the airport officials, a PIA’s special flight PK-9814 brought the stranded Pakistanis from Baghdad International Airport to Islamabad.

The PIA officials further said that all the passengers have been shifted to a quarantine centre after screening and testing them for the COVID-19. They added the passengers will be allowed to leave for their homes if their test results return negative.

The passengers include women, children, disabled persons, and elderly people. The officials said one female passenger has been shifted to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) due to high fever.

All the passengers and crew members have for now been quarantined at a local hotel, adding that the passengers will be kept under observation in the quarantine center for a period of 24 hours.

Earlier, these passengers had appealed to the government of Pakistan to bring them back to the country immediately as they were running out of money and other basic necessities.

On April 5, Pakistan Airline Pilots’ Association (PALPA) had banned pilots from operating special flights after coronavirus related SOPs were ignored.

Meanwhile, flight operation had resumed as Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) management and Pakistan Air Line Pilots Association (PALPA) reached an agreement after hectic efforts to end the strike triggered by the COVID-19 outbreak.

According to the agreement finalized between PIA management and PALPA, the crew members and pilots of the PIA planes would be provided with personal protective gear.