SAUDI ARABIA: Pakistan’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Raja Ali Ejaz has said that Islamabad has got acquiescence from the kingdom to let the flights come in for the next two weeks to take the pilgrims and for Iqama holders back home.
In a statement, Ejaz said that now holders of the Saudi residence allow could spend their leave in Pakistan. The Ambassador said that Saudi Arabia has halted the flights’ operation to different countries, including Pakistan after the expiry of the 72-hour deadline given to pilgrims and visitors to leave the kingdom.
He added that Pakistan made a special request to the kingdom and acquired the permission to transport the visiting and pilgrim Pakistanis back home over the next two weeks.
The Pakistan International Airlines will operate flights to Saudi Arabia and will bring back Pakistani nationals from Jeddah and Madina. Holders of Saudi residence consent could also return to Pakistan by these flights, he added.
Furthermore, the ambassador said Pakistan has informed the Saudi officials that there are 2.7 million Pakistanis working in the kingdom and steps should be taken so that they could restart their jobs on their return to Saudi Arabia.
He said he was hopeful that Saudi officials would accept Pakistan’s request in this regard. The Saudi authorities had asked its people and Iqama holders (residency permit holders) to go back to their respective countries as part of precautionary measures to stop the spread of coronavirus.
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