The first batch of 149 Pakistanis evacuated from Sudan reach Karachi
A C-130 carrying 110 Pakistani passengers will also land later today.
The first batch of 149 Pakistanis evacuated from Sudan reached Karachi on Friday.
Their arrival was confirmed by the Foreign Office earlier in the day.
The stranded Pakistanis were evacuated from Sudan through Jeddah via a Pakistan Air Force (PAF) Airbus.
And a second batch of the evacuates will reach Pakistan later in the day via C-130 Hercules aircraft.
“The first batch of 149 Pakistanis evacuated from Sudan arrives safely in Karachi,” FO said, adding that “the safe evacuation of every Pakistani and bringing them home was a top priority”.
The first batch of 149 Pakistanis evacuated from Sudan arrives safely in Karachi.
— Spokesperson 🇵🇰 MoFA (@ForeignOfficePk) April 28, 2023
Safe evacuation of every Pakistani and bringing them home safe remains our top priority. pic.twitter.com/e6AH1B0jBW
Furthermore, a Pakistan Air Force (PAF) spokesperson stated on Friday that a C-130 carrying 110 Pakistani passengers will also land later today.
The spokesperson said that Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu ordered a PAF fleet to “carry out the swift evacuation of stranded Pakistanis from conflict-hit Sudan” on the directives of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
“Air Force is making all-out efforts to repatriate stranded Pakistanis in coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Pakistan Embassies in Sudan and Saudi Arabia. Rescued Pakistanis from Port Sudan New International Airport are being transported by PAF aircraft,” the statement added
PAF Airbus carrying 149 passengers has safely landed at Karachi through Jeddah. PAF C-130 carrying 110 Pakistani passengers will land in later half of the day. Air Force is making all-out efforts to repatriate stranded Pakistanis in coordination with the MoFA pic.twitter.com/NZA7qwNIx0
— DGPR (AIR FORCE) (@DGPR_PAF) April 28, 2023
“Air Force is making all-out efforts to repatriate stranded Pakistanis in coordination with the MoFA and the Pakistan Embassies in Sudan and Saudi Arabia. Rescued Pakistanis from Port Sudan New International Airport are being transported by PAF aircraft. Pakistan Air Force would continue to repatriate the brothers and sisters in distress to their homeland, it added.
The evacuated families expressed their gratitude to the Government of Pakistan and appreciated Pakistan Air Force for their timely rescue amidst the rapidly deteriorating situation in Sudan.
— DGPR (AIR FORCE) (@DGPR_PAF) April 28, 2023
Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari welcomed the first batch.
He vowed to continue work “until every Pakistani in Sudan is evacuated and brought home safe at the earliest”.
I welcome home first batch of 149 Pakistanis evacuated from Sudan who arrived safely at Karachi via a PIA operated airbus. We will continue to work until every Pakistani in Sudan is evacuated and brought home safe at the earliest. Inshallah! https://t.co/ehvpQi0z5E
— BilawalBhuttoZardari (@BBhuttoZardari) April 28, 2023
According to the Foreign Office, over 700 Pakistanis have been evacuated to safety from the war-torn region of Sudan so far.
The Pakistanis in Sudan were first evacuated to Port Sudan and then transferred to Jeddah. From where the PAF is bringing them back home.