PIA brought 134 Pakistanis stranded in Iraq’s Baghdad back to the country on Wednesday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed.
The people, including pilgrims, reached the Islamabad International Airport via a special flight.
“Our mission in Baghdad in coordination with Iraq’s government facilitated smooth repatriation of our citizens,” the spokesperson of the ministry tweeted.
136 🇵🇰 nationals incl. Zaireen stranded in #Baghdad due to #COVID19 travel ban have safely reached #Islamabad through a special flight of @Official_PIA today.
Our Mission in #Baghdad in coord. with Govt of #Iraq facilitated smooth repatriation of our citizens. @SMQureshiPTI pic.twitter.com/7ADL2YfhKA
— Spokesperson 🇵🇰 MoFA (@ForeignOfficePk) April 8, 2020
They had been stuck in Baghdad after the government had closed down its international flight operations to and from Pakistan as a measure to contain the novel coronavirus.
Only special flights have been allowed to operate. Pakistan has been taking precautionary measures against COVID-19. More than 4,000 people have been affected by it nationwide so far.