ISLAMABAD: Special Assistant to Prime minister on National Security Dr Moeed Yusuf on Monday said that the government will go “all out” to rescue Pakistani nationals stranded across the globe, announcing that to date at least 20,000 nationals have been brought back home through special flights.
Addressing a press conference, Dr Yusuf said: “20,000 people have been repatriated, and about 120,000 people still want to return.”
This week, Dr Yusuf said, the government will focus on rescuing citizens from the US as the American government had granted permission to Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) to operate special flights. “We will also run flights to/from the UK and some African countries,” he added.
The SAPM further announced that every national returning from abroad will immediately undergo the Covid-19 test. “When passengers return they will immediately undergo a test unlike our previous policy of waiting for 48 hours,” he said.
The development was also confirmed by Minister of State for Overseas Pakistanis Zulfi Bukhari who, through a tweet, said that the government has reduced the quarantine period for incoming passengers, who will be allowed to leave the facility if they test negative.
Tests will be conducted at quarantine facilities, he said, adding that efforts to reduce to period to 24 hours were underway.
New policy implemented for all flying to Pakistan during #COVID
•Wait period in quarantine reduced to time for test results to come in,tests will be taken at facility
•This is considerable reduction from 72hrs previously. Best efforts will be made to limit this to within 24hrs— Sayed Z Bukhari (@sayedzbukhari) May 11, 2020
Asked about the future of Covid-19 carriers, Dr Yusuf responded they will be allowed to go if the provincial governments feel they can be isolated at home. However, he said, those who cannot be isolated at home, will be provided government quarantine facilities.
He said that Prime Minister Imran Khan wanted a higher number of nationals to return home. “We will try to do everything to bring our people back. We currently are trying to bring back 10,000 Pakistanis, most of whom will be from Middle Eastern countries,” he revealed.
When asked about the people who tested positive upon return, he said: “We have agreed with Middle Eastern countries that all passengers will be tested before boarding and social distancing will be observed in flights.”
He said that all passengers will be tested again in Pakistan as well.
“However, if you don’t follow the rules and try to avoid being quarantined and tested. It would affect your families, the Pakistani nation and nationals stranded abroad because if the percentage of infected passengers grows, we won’t be able to bring anyone back,” Dr Yusuf added.
