–PIA says 401 passengers out of 2,348 brought back to Karachi on 15 flights tested positive for corona
ISLAMABAD: An estimated 293 passengers arriving on separate flights to Islamabad and Peshawar last week have tested positive for coronavirus, it has been learnt.
According to details, 104 passengers out of 204 tested positive for the coronavirus from an Islamabad-bound flight which arrived in the country from Abu Dhabi on Aug 28, under the relief flight operations during the pandemic.
Rawalpindi Deputy Commissioner Captain (r) Anwarul Haq said that all the passengers were kept at the quarantine centre near the Fatima Jinnah University.
He said that all the samples were sent to the National Institute of Health for testing, after which tests of 104 came positive on Monday. He said that all the passengers will be kept under quarantine for now.
Meanwhile, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Health Department said that 189 passengers coming from abroad had tested positive for the novel virus.
These passengers arrived on April 28 in Peshawar on a flight carrying 248 passengers from Qatar.
Peshawar Deputy Commissioner Ali Asghar said that the 189 passengers have been shifted to a quarantine facility while those in serious condition have been admitted to a police hospital.
Meanwhile, Pakistan International Airline (PIA) on Monday said that an average of 17 per cent passengers who landed in Karachi in the last 15 days have tested positive for coronavirus.
In its last 15 flights, the airline has brought back 2,348 passengers to the city. Of these, 401 people have tested positive for the deadly virus
The passengers have been shifted to quarantine centres. The highest number of positive tests came from a flight that landed in Karachi from Sharjah on April 29.
A total of 127 people on that flight had the coronavirus. On the other hand, 1,714 passengers have been allowed to leave for their homes after testing negative.
According to the airline, the passengers hailed from different parts of the country.
Earlier, the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) said that the closure of regional flight operations from airports across the country has been extended till May 7, in line with restrictions to contain the novel coronavirus.
Only special flights, diplomats, and cargo planes would be allowed to continue operations, the PCAA said.
Last week, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) appreciated efforts by the Pakistani government to repatriate its citizens from the country, as coronavirus cases continue to surge in both countries.
On April 20, 1,500 Pakistanis were repatriated to Pakistan from the UAE. So far, the government of Pakistan has successfully brought back 3,418 Pakistanis from the UAE who wished to return to their country in light of the coronavirus situation.
