Special Flight Operation Conducted Successfully by PIA for Return of Pakistani Nationals from Wuhan and Hubei Province

May 18,2020

PIA’s special flight PIA8872 departed from Tianhe Airport Wuhan today to transport 274 returning Pakistani students from Wuhan and Hubei province to Pakistan. In view of the disruption of commercial flight operations, it was PIA’s first special flight from China to transport Pakistani nationals back home. In pursuance of instructions of the Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Embassy had shortlisted passengers with urgent travel requirements for early return.

The returning students have been studying in several universities of Hubei and continued staying in China after the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic.  During the state visit of President Arif Alvi to Beijing on 16-17 March, the President and the Foreign Minister Qureshi had held a tele-conference with Pakistani students and assured to bring them back to Pakistan at an opportune time. The Embassy remained in close contact with the students in Wuhan and Hubei and sent a two-member task force to facilitate and assist them.

Special arrangements were made by the Embassy of Pakistan for the flight operation due to the prevalent quarantine requirements and ongoing testing of all inhabitants of Wuhan city. A special unit of four Embassy officers was constituted to liaison with the PIA, relevant Chinese departments and Pakistani students for finalising the arrangement of flight operations. Embassy also dispatched one of its officers to Wuhan for overseeing the flight arrangements.

All passengers upon arriving in Pakistan would be subject to relevant procedures of Government of Pakistan for containing the spread of disease.