KARACHI: The first batch of Pakistani citizens evacuated from conflict-stricken Sudan has arrived safely in Karachi, a Pakistan Air Force (PAF) spokesperson said in a press release issued on Friday.
A PAF Airbus carrying 149 passengers from Jeddah has safely landed in Karachi, the spokesperson said.
He added a C-130 carrying 110 Pakistani passengers will also land later today.
He said that Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu has ordered a PAF fleet to “carry out the swift evacuation of stranded Pakistanis from conflict-hit Sudan” on the directives of Prime Minister of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif.
28 April, 2023: On the directives of the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu, Chief of the Air Staff, Pakistan Air Force has ordered PAF transport fleet to carry out swift evacuation of stranded Pakistanis from conflict-hit Sudan. pic.twitter.com/Yp4od29Cz5
— DGPR (AIR FORCE) (@DGPR_PAF) April 28, 2023
The spokesperson said PAF is making all-out efforts to repatriate stranded Pakistanis in coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Pakistan Embassies in Sudan and Saudi Arabia.
“Rescued Pakistanis from Port Sudan New International Airport are being transported by PAF aircraft,” he added.
The air force assured it would “continue to repatriate the brothers and sisters in distress to their homeland to their homeland”.
It added that the evacuated families expressed their gratitude to the government and appreciated Pakistan Air Force for their timely rescue amidst the rapidly deteriorating situation in Sudan.
Foreign Minister of Pakistan Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari welcomed the return of the first batch of evacuated Pakistanis.
He said, “We will continue to work until every Pakistani in Sudan is evacuated and brought home safe at the earliest.”
https://twitter.com/BBhuttoZardari/status/1651820394515496962
Since the conflict began earlier this month, the Foreign Office has been working to repatriate Pakistanis stranded in war-hit Sudan.
As per the Foreign Office, Over 700 Pakistanis have been evacuated to safety from the war-torn region. The Pakistanis in Sudan are first evacuated to Port Sudan and then transferred to Jeddah, where the PAF brings them back home.
