PIA aircraft with 67 Pakistanis from Yemen reaches Karachi

KARACHI: A Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) aircraft, carrying 67 Pakistanis stranded in the war-torn Yemini city Sana’a, has landed at Jinnah International Airport in the early hours on Monday.

Families and relatives were gathered in large numbers at the airport to welcome their loved ones on safely returning home.

Flight PK-7006 first landed at Islamabad airport with 137 Pakistanis earlier on Sunday night. Two Canadian and two Sudanese nationals were also on board.

Minister for SAFRON Abdul Qadir Baloch, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Aviation Shujaat Azeem, and senior officials of the Foreign Office received the Pakistanis.

Read: 134 Pakistanis from Sana'a reach Islamabad

On reaching Karachi, the passengers appreciated government’s efforts in securing their safe repatriation from the war-torn country in the Middle East.

They also thanked the national carrier and the media for their support in this regard. “Pakistan Zindabad” chants were also heard at the scene.




According to the Foreign Office, 850 Pakistani nationals have so far been evacuated from Yemen.

Meanwhile, a Pakistani Navy vessel which departed from Alsheher on Saturday is expected to reach Pakistan also today. The navy frigate has 148 Pakistanis on board, as well as 35 foreign nationals.

“Chinese students and employees, mostly European and Indians of a company whose CEO facilitated our citizens, are on PN ship for evacuation,” said Foreign Office spokesperson Tasneem Aslam.

“We were brought to Alsheher which is 50 KM from Mukalla under tight security,” said Shahzain who is among the stranded Pakistanis on board the PNS Aslat.

Saudia Arabia and its allies launched Operation Decisive Storm against the Houthi rebels on March 26 to halt their advance in Yemen.