ISLAMABAD: Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development Zulfikar Abbas Bukhari has urged Saudi Arabia to further extend the iqama expiration date and allow more PIA flights.
Bukhari held an online meeting through video link with Saudi Vice Minister for Labor Abdullah bin Naseer Abuthnain and discussed the problems faced by Pakistani citizens as their visas are about to expire on 1st October and are unable to find flights back to Saudi Arabia.
“Frequency of flights of both Saudi air carriers and PIA may be increased as there is a lot of pressure from the workers who want to go back to Saudi Arabia. Lack of availability of flights has also resulted in exorbitant airfares,” Bukhari told the Saudi ministers.
Bukhari also requested the Saudi minister to extend the iqama by at least one month. “Visa validity date may be extended to 30th October, 2020 both for Pakistanis residing in Saudi Arabia and for those Pakistanis who are currently on leave from their jobs and stuck in Pakistan,” SAPM said.
Saudi Deputy Minister for Labour, Abdullah bin Nasir Abu Al-Sani, promised to raise the issue of flights and visa at the weekly joint ministerial meeting.
The deputy minister further said that the policy of vacating 25 percent of airline seats has also been a burden on flights. He said the policy is being revised and soon passengers will be allowed full occupancy which will also ease the burden on flights.
The SAPM congratulated the Saudi members on their National day. Welcoming the expression, the Saudi deputy minister informed about a expected big news for Pakistan regarding amendment in labour laws in October.
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