ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s temporary ban on all international and domestic flights will continue until April 30 to limit the spread of coronavirus in the country, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) said in a statement released on Saturday night.

“As per the decision of the Government of Pakistan, the suspension of International and Domestic flight operations as effected earlier has been extended upto Thursday, April 30, 2020,” CAA said.

The ban, which came into effect on March 21, is part of Pakistan’s anti-virus measures as the number of COVID-19 or coronavirus cases rose to nearly 8,000, with 159 deaths reported on Sunday.

However, based on special permission given by the government, national carrier Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and a few foreign airlines will be allowed to operate to bring back approximately 43,000 Pakistanis stranded in other countries which will be through a phased repatriation process. 

“So far, 2,287 Pakistanis have been repatriated home through 12 PIA special flights from Doha, Dubai, Bangkok, Istanbul, London, Baku, Tashkent, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore,” Aisa Farooqui, Foreign Office spokesperson said on Friday after sharing the statistics in a statement.

The second phase – which was for four days from April 14 to 18 – saw the return of 2,000 Pakistanis through nine special flights.

“This includes approximately 474 nationals, mostly Umra Zaireen from Saudi Arabia, 271 from Oman, 634 from UAE, 270 from Japan and Thailand and 225 from Indonesia,” the statement said.