DUBAI: Stranded Pakistanis in the United Arab Emirates have been asked to register with the Consulate General in Dubai if they intend to fly back to their country in the coming days.

The move comes days after the UAE authorities suspended all incoming and outgoing flights as a precautionary measure to halt the spread of COVID-19.

A consulate spokesman told Arab News on Friday that the diplomatic facility was collecting data on those who were stuck in the UAE and wanted to travel back into their country soon.

“This is, of course, subject to the arrangement of special flights from the UAE to Pakistan and availability of seats in them,” he said.

“All passengers will have to purchase their own tickets if special flights are arranged,” said the spokesperson. 

The consulate has asked people to fill out a form that includes details, such as the passport number, number of travelers, type of visa and the destination city, among other details.

Ahmed Amjad Ali, the Consul General of Pakistan to Dubai, had recently told Arab News that the country’s diplomatic mission was trying to arrange special flights for stranded Pakistanis in the UAE.

“We are trying to arrange special flights for the stranded people who want to go back to Pakistan. We have also approached the UAE government to look into the exemption of fines for visit visa holders,” he had said.

Fahad Abro from Karachi, who has a family of three stuck in Dubai, said: “My Emirates Airlines flight was scheduled for April 10, but it has now been canceled and I need to find a solution.”

Mudassar Joya, who was visiting the UAE when the COVID-19 outbreak took place, said: “I have a flight ticket for April 8 and the Emirates Airlines has said that it will start its operations on April 6, but it is not clear if the airlines will fly to Pakistan or not. I am here on a visit visa which ends in a few days, so I welcome this step and have registered myself.”

Qasim Raja, who is also on a visit visa that expires on April 12, said that this was a good initiative taken by the consulate. “Many stranded people are looking forward to such arrangements since they need to fly back home,” he said.