Repatriation flights take stranded workers home to Pakistan from UAE
The first flight of 20 special flights to repatriate Pakistanis stranded in the United Arab Emirates left Dubai on Saturday.
After the United Arab Emirates threatened to review labor ties with countries refusing to repatriate their citizens, thousands of stranded Pakistanis are now beginning to return home on special repatriation flights.
The first flight carrying more than 200 Pakistanis left for Islamabad on Saturday, the Pakistani Consulate in Dubai announced on Twitter. Citizens will return home on 20 special flights during a third phase of repatriations beginning Monday, said Pakistan Foreign Ministry spokesperson Aisha Farooqui.
More than 40,000 Pakistanis have registered with the consulate to return home from the emirates, which suspended passenger flights out of the country last month. There are roughly 1.6 million Pakistanis living and working in the UAE. Those with expired residencies were given a three-month extension and visa overstay fines for visitors have been waived.
Earlier this month, the UAE said it would review labor relations with states refusing to take back their citizens, including migrant laborers who lost their jobs due to the pandemic.
