Several Pak students still stranded in UK

LONDON/MANCHESTER: Several Pakistani students remain stranded across Britain, desperately awaiting assistance from Pakistan High Commission, Pakistan government and Pakistan International Airlines (PIA).

The British government announced a nationwide lockdown with travel restrictions on March 23. Thousands of international students from different countries, including Pakistan, were unable to leave due to cancellation of flight operations.

Hertfordshire University student Fawad Ahmed Malik, who is studying Operations and Supply Chain Management since January 2019 told The News: “My flight was booked for May 1, from London Heathrow to Lahore. I am trying to contact PIA to confirm my flight timings but they are not answering my calls or responding to my emails.

“The Pakistan High Commission hasn’t replied to any of my email yet. They have just sent me an automated response, no one from either PIA or High Commission has contacted me so far. My parents in Islamabad are also worried as I have no money at all to eat or live.”

Malik, in a heart wrenching appeal, requested the Pakistani High Commission in London to arrange his departure or accommodation in Britain. The Pakistan High Commission in London told The News that it has designated First Secretary Aneel Zafar exclusively for students’ affairs and publicised it in media and on the mission’s website.

The spokesperson said: “Fawad Ahmed Malik sent email to the High Commission London on 29th April for his repatriation to Pakistan. His email was responded that his request has been registered. In response to the High Commission’s press release dated 25 March, stranded Pakistanis have been registering with the High Commission ever since. More than 1800 stranded Pakistanis are registered with us. Priority is accorded as mentioned in the High Commissioner’s message to the Community. Keeping in view student’s situation, the High Commission will provide necessary support to him”.

PIA flight PK 758 from London to Lahore was scheduled to take stranded Pakistanis from the UK on May 1 but was cancelled without notice to its passengers. Scores of people are in uncertainty over their future in the UK and are in regular contact with the PIA and the Pakistan High Commission.

A PIA spokesman told The News and Geo: “Regular flight operations to and from Pakistan have been suspended till 16 May. PIA is flying special flights after obtaining permissions from the government of Pakistan to repatriate stranded Pakistanis from all across the globe. For all such passengers who had a booking before the outbreak of Covid-19 are put on hold, and will be accommodated as flight operations normalise. These special flights can be best termed chartered and are operated at the behest of the government of Pakistan and coordinated and controlled by Pakistan’s concerned foreign missions.

“The last two flights operated on April 23 and May 1 from the UK to Pakistan and brought back 250 passengers in each flight carrying passengers who had registered themselves with PHC (Pakistan High Commission) UK.”