The government has evacuated 71 Pakistani nationals from Lebanon and Syria, with a special Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight arriving in Karachi early Wednesday morning. The flight brought back 67 Pakistanis repatriated from Lebanon, who traveled to Damascus by road before being airlifted to Pakistan, along with four others from Syria, according to the Foreign Office.
In a statement, the Foreign Office noted that the Pakistan Embassy in Lebanon and Syria coordinated security, transport, and food arrangements to ensure a safe evacuation.
Upon arrival, the evacuees were greeted at Karachi Airport by Governor Sindh Kamran Tessori, Federal Minister Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, and Sindh Industries Minister Jam Ikramullah Dharejo. Governor Tessori emphasized the government's commitment to the safe return of stranded Pakistanis from Lebanon and assured that efforts would continue to repatriate the remaining individuals.
Siddiqui acknowledged the challenges faced during the evacuation and stated that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs took full responsibility for the safe return of the nationals. Last month, the Ministry activated its Crisis Management Unit (CMU) to assist Pakistani citizens and their families in Lebanon, who were stranded due to the suspension of flight operations.