KYIV: Pakistan’s embassy in Ukraine on Saturday said it has safely evacuated a large number of stranded Pakistani students and nationals despite the difficult situation following Russian forces’ attacks on key cities.
In a voice message on Twitter, Pakistan’s ambassador to Ukraine Dr Noel Israel Khokhar announced that there were about 3,000 students in Ukraine and the bulk of them had been safely evacuated.
???? Message Update by ???????? Ambassador Dr Noel Israel Khokhar @PakinUkraine regarding evacuation assistance to Pakistanis in #Ukraine❗️ @SMQureshiPTI @ForeignOfficePk #Pakistan pic.twitter.com/kFyffW6Kt7
— Pakistan Embassy Ukraine (@PakinUkraine) February 25, 2022
He said some 500 to 600 were left in the war-hit country and the embassy was in the process to safely evacuate them. The ambassador said that they were making hectic efforts despite ordeals and difficulties in Ukraine.
“All Pakistanis are safe and we are trying to guide them under the difficult situation,” Khokhar said, citing closure of flights, banking systems and non-availability of transport and fuel.
Sharing the latest details, the ambassador said a total of 62 people including 21 family members of the embassy staff had already been evacuated whereas 59 people were on the Ukraine-Poland border crossing.
He said that another 79 people including 67 students and 12 family members of embassy staff were on their way to Ukraine-Poland border. A batch of 104 students from Kharkiv was arriving via train while 20 other students were being evacuated from Kyiv on a bus arranged by the embassy.
‼️In continuation of @PakinUkraine evacuation efforts, 1️⃣0️⃣4️⃣ more Pakistani students are on way from Kharkiv for #Lviv.
➖ They will be received by Embassy personnel and transferred to the nearest border crossing point. pic.twitter.com/ofO9QmfvCG
— Spokesperson ???????? MoFA (@ForeignOfficePk) February 26, 2022
Separately, the Pakistan Embassy in Bucharest, Romania has established an additional hotline in addition to embassy’s already existing one which is being manned round-the-clock.
According to Radio Pakistan, detailed information and guidance regarding border crossing points and visas are shared on social media.
“Individuals were also guided separately. A cell headed by DHM and supervised by HOM for coordination with the Romanian side had been set up for facilitation of entrants mainly upon entering at Siret,” it added.
So far, four Pakistanis, who had lodged in Bucharest, were evacuated whereas another 16 Pakistanis were expected to be evacuated today.
A team of Embassy of Pakistan in Budapest, Hungary, left for Zahony border to receive 15 Pakistani students and the related arrangements were made for their reception, transport, stay in Budapest and onward travel to Pakistan.
