Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar says government has taken comprehensive steps to facilitate and support Pakistanis, stranded in Iran and other Gulf countries.
He was briefing the media persons in Islamabad today about prevailing situation in the Middle East particularly the issue of stranded Pakistanis in Gulf countries.
Ishaq Dar said special facilitation desks have been established to assist returning Pakistani nationals.
He said the Crisis Management Unit at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is operating round the clock and its contact numbers are available on the official X handle.
The Deputy Prime Minister said Pakistan’s embassy in Abu Dhabi and Consulates in Jeddah and Dubai are actively assisting Pakistani nationals.
Ishaq Dar said three facilitation centres have been set up in Iran’s cities of Tehran, Zahedan, and Mashhad to guide and support Pakistanis.
He said Pakistan is in contact with foreign ministers and senior officials of various countries to ensure every possible assistance to stranded Pakistanis.
He also thanked Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Iran, and Azerbaijan for their cooperation and assistance to the Pakistani diaspora.
Ishaq Dar said seven hundred ninety-two Pakistanis have so far returned from Iran, adding that around thirty-three thousand Pakistanis are currently residing there.
He said people from several countries, including Pakistan, are stranded in Iran and some Gulf states, as the air spaces are closed except for Oman and Saudi Arabia.
However, land routes are open which are though time-consuming, but several countries are using them for evacuation.
He further said Pakistani pilgrims in Iraq are also being assisted, as Iraq’s airspace is also closed.
