Islamabad: Pakistan will reopen 25% of its airspace after Saturday (June 20) to repatriate citizens stranded abroad due to the ongoing COVID-19 lockdown — a news source reported. Nearly 40,000 to 45,000 citizens will be repatriated each week; with the exercise expected to be completed within one month.
The Special Assistant to the PM on National Security and Strategic Policy Dr Moeed Yusuf announced at a press conference on Wednesday that the federal government had prepared a plan in this regard in consultation with the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) to repatriate the stranded Pakistanis.
He further said that as per the new arrangements, only passengers that present coronavirus symptoms will be tested. If found positive, they will be quarantined. However, every passenger will have to self-isolate at their homes and they will have to agree to this in writing at the airport.
Dr Yusuf further said that the provinces will keep a track of these passengers through a track and trace system, and that anyone found violating the government issued SOPs would face penalties.
