By Syed Mussarat Khalil

Saudi Gazette

JEDDAH -- The Pakistan Embassy here has facilitated repatriation of 250 stranded Pakistani nationals who will be flying from Riyadh to Lahore aboard a special PIA flight on Thursday.

Priority has been accorded to Pakistanis travelling due to emergency reasons, medical issues, those with expired iqama and overstaying visit visas. Also in the list were those with final exit and laid off workers.

This would be the second repatriation flight from Riyadh since suspension of air operations in the Kingdom on March 15 due to the outbreak of coronavirus pandemic.

The first flight took off for Islamabad on May 1.

Speaking to the Pakistanis who had gathered at the embassy premises to for purchase air tickets, Ambassador Raja Ali Ejaz underscored that the embassy was taking all possible measures for the welfare, safe and early return of Pakistanis from the Kingdom.

The ambassador also thanked them for their understanding and cooperation during these difficult times, said Arshad Munir, Consular (Press), at the Pakistani Consulate General in Jeddah.