ISLAMABAD: As many as 50 Pakistani nationals stranded in Colombo owing to the suspension of airline operations due to COVID-19 epidemic, reached Islamabad via a special flight of Sri Lankan Airlines on Tuesday.
Pakistan High Commission, Colombo coordinated with the government of Pakistan and local Sri Lankan authorities for the successful return of 50 stranded Pakistanis.
Deputy High Commissioner Tanvir Ahmad was present on behalf of the high commissioner to see off the departing Pakistanis at the Bandaranaike International Airport, Colombo.
The returning nationals thanked the Pakistan’s government and high commission for arranging their repatriation to the country.
They also expressed satisfaction over the efforts being put in by the Pakistani missions in Colombo for the welfare and well-being of community members in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.
According to airport authorities, the special flight reached Islamabad airport via Sri Lankan Airlines flight UL-1185, where doctors examined and screened the passengers.
Sources said that all the passengers and crew members have been shifted to a quarantine centre after screening and testing them for the coronavirus.
The sources added the passengers will be allowed to leave for their homes if their test results return negative.
Pakistan is continuing to bring back its stranded nationals across the globe and so far 11,750 have been airlifted from the various countries.
Earlier, Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi had also instructed all Pakistani missions abroad to facilitate the repatriation of Pakistanis during the epidemic.
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