ISLAMABAD: Minster for Aviation Ghulam Sarwar Khan says flight operation for the repatriation of stranded Pakistanis in different countries will start today (Monday).

Talking to media regarding flights resumption, Ghulam Sarwar Khan said the process of repatriation of stranded Pakistanis will be carried out through eighteen flights.

Ghulam Sarwar Khan said action is also being taken against the airlines involved in overbooking.

Ghulam Sarwar Khan shared that the CAA and Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) had decided to operate 18 flights to Gulf countries, including the UAE, Qatar and Bahrain to repatriate stranded Pakistani citizens.

For the UAE, 10 flights will operate between July 5 and 10 to bring back 3,394 Pakistanis from Dubai and Sharjah. Six flights will operate between July 6 and 18 to bring back 2,016 people from Doha and two flights will operate between July 9 and 11 to bring back 772 Pakistanis from Bahrain, Khan said.

“Besides this, we have allocated 2,000 special seats for UAE and [stranded Pakistanis] will be brought back to the country before Eid,” he added.

The minister said that PIA had upgraded its Airbus A320 planes for the purpose while four BBB7 planes had also been designated.

“Booking has been started and God willing, flight operation will start from UAE tomorrow and in four days, all the stranded Pakistanis in different Gulf states will be brought back safely in an honourable manner.”

Ghulam Sarwar Khan said the airlines, including Emirates, Qatar Airways, Etihad Airways and Fly Dubai had been issued show-cause notices.