Over190 Pakistanis stranded in India repatriated via Wagah border

LAHORE: At least 193 Pakistani nationals, stranded in India due to the novel COVID-19 epidemic, have returned to country via Wagah border on Thursday.

According to sources, the stranded Pakistani nationals, including women and children, were screened and shifted to quarantine centres in Lahore upon their arrival in Pakistan.

Earlier, the Indian External Affairs Ministry had instructed state police chiefs to facilitate the travel of 193 stranded Pakistanis back to their country via the Attari-Wagah border crossing.

The directives by the Indian government had been issued after the Pakistan high commission requested facilitation for Pakistani citizens in returning to their country.

The purpose of Pakistani nationals’ trip to India pertained to visiting family, seeking medical treatment and attending religious ceremonies.

They were stranded across 25 districts in 10 states: West Bengal, Maharashtra, Pradesh, Madhya Gujarat, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Punjab, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh.

The returnees thanked both the Indian and Pakistani governments for ensuring their return to their home country. Earlier this month, 41 Pakistani stranded in India returned to the country via Wagah border.

Many of the returnees were reportedly quarantined in different cities and screened at Attari before being permitted to cross the Wagah border.