ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Ahmad Farooq has urged the country’s expatriates residing in the Kingdom to respect local laws amid tensions in the Gulf region, announcing that Islamabad has set up teams to assist Pakistani passengers suffering from flight disruptions at various airports in Saudi Arabia.
Passengers around the world have suffered flight delays and disruptions after several regional countries shut down their airspace when Iran launched strikes against US bases in the Gulf. The conflict has affected key air corridors and forced airlines to cancel or reroute thousands of flights. Hundreds of international and domestic flights have also been canceled in Pakistan since the latest conflict in the Middle East began on Feb. 28, with most of them scheduled to fly between the South Asian country and destinations in the Middle East.
State broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported on Sunday that the war has disrupted air travel, particularly for Pakistani Umrah pilgrims and other passengers in the western regions of Saudi Arabia.
“I would like to request you all that under the current circumstances, please remain calm and show discipline,” Farooq said in a video message released by the Pakistan Embassy in Saudi Arabia on Sunday. “Respect local laws and do not believe rumors of any sort.”
He urged citizens to contact the Pakistani embassy in Riyadh and the Consulate General of Pakistan in Jeddah on emergency landlines to seek help and facilitation in any emergency situation.
Farooq said the Pakistani missions were aware of the difficulties being faced by Pakistani passengers due to flight disruptions and delays.
“For your facilitation, we have deployed our teams at Saudi Arabia’s airports who are monitoring the situation arising from the suspension in flights and where necessary, are providing people with help in seeking accommodation, food, medicines and in rebooking flights,” he added.
He said the Pakistani missions have also deployed teams at Saudi Arabia’s border regions to assist Pakistani citizens in reaching nearby cities and finally to their home country.
Flight disruption in the Middle East has affected the region’s largest hub airports in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha, where carriers such as Emirates, Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways together normally handle about 90,000 passengers a day, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium.
Fitch Ratings said the duration of aviation disruption following the Feb. 28 strikes by Israel and the US on Iran, and Iran’s subsequent retaliation across the region, would be key in determining the impact on sectors including airlines, airports, hospitality, insurance and aircraft leasing.
