KARACHI - A special Boeing-747 jumbo jet of the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) reached Al-Hudaydah to fetch the trapped Pakistani citizens, after it was given clearance to depart for Yemen from Saudi aviation authorities. The flight is expected to evacuate 504 stranded Pakistanis.
The crew was given a brief training about tackling conflict zones before their departure. A convoy of 600 Pakistanis reached Al-Hudaydah on Sunday after escaping from the embattled Yemeni capital Sanaa to leave for Pakistan. The convoy was inspected heavily by the Yemeni armed forces and the Houthi militia before it was permitted to exit Sanaa. According to the spokesman of the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), the flight operations will be continued until all Pakistanis are evacuated from Yemen. A frigate belonging to Pakistan Navy left for the Gulf of Aden on the coast of Yemen on Sunday from a seaport in Karachi to rescue the stranded Pakistanis from the war-torn country. The fully-equipped ship will provide its services to aid the evacuation process.
Pakistan’s Ambassador to Yemen Dr Irfan Shami has said that around 1000 Pakistanis will be evacuated and sent to Pakistan in a span of two days. Women and children will be transported first, the ambassador has said. According to CAA spokesman, another PIA airplane, Airbus-310 will also be used in the evacuation operation. Former ambassador to the US Sherry Rehman, however, was critical of the government’s handling of the evacuation of Pakistanis in Yemen. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Friday had ordered the Pakistani mission in Yemen to take steps for the immediate evacuation of stranded Pakistani families in the troubled country.
Upon directions of the prime minister, a comprehensive plan was devised for the evacuation of the stranded Pakistanis. A Crisis Management Cell has been established at the Foreign Office to coordinate the arrangements for evacuation. Minister for Defence Khawaja Asif spoke to his Saudi counterpart on Saturday night during which he was given assurance that all facilities would be provided to Pakistanis for their return home.
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