ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s temporary ban on all international flights will continue until May 15 to limit the spread of coronavirus in the country, the country’s Aviation Division said in a statement released on Saturday night.
“As per the decision of the government of Pakistan, the suspension of international flight operations as effected earlier has been extended up to Friday, May 15, 2020...,” it said.
The ban, which came into effect on March 21, is part of Pakistan’s anti-virus measures to limit the spread of the deadly disease even as the confirmed number of infections rose to nearly 13,000 on Sunday, with 269 deaths reported.
However, based on special permission provided by the government, national carrier Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and a few foreign airlines will be allowed to operate, to bring back approximately 60,000 overseas Pakistanis.
On Saturday, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said that Pakistan had increased its capacity to bring back 7,000 nationals every week, as opposed to 5,000 which was set earlier.
In a video address to the Pakistani diaspora in the US, he said the government was making all efforts to bring all 60,000 nationals back before Eid ul Fitr.
“We have already brought back 10,000 Pakistanis,” he said.
