Senate panel told citizens trapped in Syria being evacuated

ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs Tuesday told the Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs that urgent measures were being taken for immediate evacuation of Pakistanis trapped in Syria and that out of 180 pilgrims evacuated, 170 had been allowed to leave for Lebanon.

Senator Irfan Siddiqui chaired the committee meeting at the Parliament House.

The Foreign Office told the committee that since Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s contact with his Lebanese counterpart, the Lebanese government had been providing visas to the Pakistani pilgrims at the border. “These people have been sent to Beirut by buses,” the committee was briefed.

The committee was told that Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar had spoken to his Turkish counterpart about the nationals’ security.

The officials of the Foreign Office told the committee that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had instructed the NDMA to arrange special flights to bring Pakistanis home from Beirut.

The committee was told that there were more than 700 Pakistani families living in Syria and they were being provided with necessary facilities.

The committee urged the government as well as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to provide the nationals with necessary facilities.

The chairman committee acknowledged the efforts of the prime minister alongside the foreign ministry on evacuation of Pakistanis.

The meeting deliberated upon the condemnation of the Zionist state's recent legislation targeting the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), and measures taken to facilitate visa processes for Pakistanis in key countries such as the UAE, Qatar, and Turkey.

The committee condemned the PM Benjamin Netanyahu administration's recent legislation aimed at undermining the UNRWA’s operations in the region. In a formal statement, the Embassy of the State of Palestine presented its strongest objections to the new law, describing it as an affront to the international law and Palestinian rights.

The committee was informed that the Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs had emphasized that the legislation was part of a broader Zionist state's strategy to delegitimize UNRWA and erase the Palestinian refugee issue, which remains central to the longstanding conflict.

The ministry further asserted that the law, which seeks to restrict UNRWA’s presence in Jerusalem, violates multiple UN resolutions, including General Assembly Resolutions 302 and 194, which recognize the agency’s role and the Palestinian refugees’ right of return.

The committee joined the global chorus condemning the Netanyahu government's actions, reiterating its unwavering support for Palestinian rights and UNRWA’s mission.

The Committee also received updates from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on efforts to streamline visa processes for Pakistanis seeking employment and travel opportunities abroad.

A key agenda item of the committee was about the Ministry of Foreign Affair’s response to the US House Resolution 901, which expressed support for democracy and human rights in Pakistan.

The resolution, passed in June 2024, drew criticism from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for its lack of understanding of Pakistan’s political dynamics.

In response, Pakistan’s Embassy in Washington circulated a counter-resolution adopted by Pakistan’s National Assembly, which rejected the US stance, calling it based on unsubstantiated allegations.

The Foreign Office reaffirmed its position that the US should focus on strengthening bilateral ties and supporting Pakistan’s ongoing democratic reforms rather than issuing unconstructive resolutions.

The Ministry also highlighted its efforts to engage the US Congress in a more balanced and informed discussion on Pakistan’s democratic progress and human rights advancements.