ISLAMABAD – More than 300 Pakistani nationals, who were stranded in Syria, safely reached home on Friday morning.
A special plane carrying 318 Pakistanis who were evacuated from Syria to Beirut, Lebanon a day earlier landed at Islamabad airport.
Minister for Planning and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal and Chairman National Disaster Management Authority Lt. Gen. Inam Haider Malik received them at the airport.
On the directions of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the comprehensive plan for the safe evacuation of Pakistani citizens was carried out by NDMA in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
In a statement, the prime minister said the safe evacuation of Pakistani nationals from Syria was a top priority of the government.
He appreciated the prompt action taken by Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Pakistani embassies in Syria and Lebanon, and the NDMA authorities in ensuring the safe evacuation of Pakistani citizens.
He also expressed gratitude to the Prime Minister of Lebanon, Najib Mikati, whose government provided all possible cooperation and assistance for the evacuation of Pakistanis via Beirut.
PM Shehbaz also directed the authorities concerned to continue taking immediate steps to evacuate more Pakistani citizens from Syria.
