UAE, Pakistan working on more repatriation flights for Pakistanis
DUBAI: The United Arab Emirates and Pakistan are working to add more flights to repatriate Pakistani citizens from the Gulf Arab state, a Dubai government source said on Wednesday.
Islamabad last week began repatriating some of its citizens from the United Arab Emirates, which had earlier warned countries refusing to take back nationals stranded by the coronavirus pandemic that it could review labour ties.
A Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight carried home 227 Pakistanis on Saturday.
Thirteen more repatriation flights will depart the United Arab Emirates between April 20 and April 28, the source said, adding that they will be operated by Emirates, Air Arabia and PIA.
“The governments of UAE and Pakistan continue to work to facilitate further flights to repatriate Pakistani nationals.” Pakistan is a big labour supplier to the UAE, with more than a million Pakistanis living and working in the country, according to Pakistani diplomats. - Reuters