ISLAMABAD: The Pakistani government has evacuated 318 nationals from war-torn Syria Tuesday chartered plane on Saturday morning.
Federal Minister for Planning and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal and Chairman National Disaster Management Authority Lt. Gen. Inam Haider Malik received the repatriated nationals at the Islamabad Airport.
The evacuation process was conducted days after the armed opposition fighters ousted President Bashar al Assad’s authoritarian government.
The Pakistani government evacuated its nationals from war-torn Syria via Lebanon. After they safely crossed the Lebanon border, Pakistan requested Beirut to issue them visas so they travel back to their country.
The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, conducted a comprehensive plan for safe evacuation of Pakistani nationals, state broadcast Radio Pakistan reported.
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 the 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.
Prime Minister also directed the authorities concerned to continue taking immediate steps to evacuate more Pakistani citizens from Syria.
