ISLAMABAD: Foreign Office was directed by Federal Ombudsman to approach and assist Pakistanis stranded in different African countries.
A sizable number of Pakistanis have approached Federal Ombudsman Secretariat for help, assistance and for return to Pakistan presently confined in different countries of African Continent.
Hafiz Ahsaan Ahmad Khokhar Senior Advisor and Grievance Commissioner for Overseas Pakistanis in Federal Ombudsman Secretariat confirmed that number of applications have been received from different Pakistanis presently stranded in South Africa, Sudan, Ethiopia and other countries and they have requested for help, assistance from Pak Missions and early return to Pakistan.
As per applications, these Pakistanis are stranded in different countries of African continent due to pandemic situation and suspension of international flights operation to Pakistan and they are confined there for more than one month and hence sought indulgence of govt authorities in Pakistan. Applications of these Pakistanis have further disclosed that even some of them are stranded at airport of Ethiopia and requested for help and return to Pakistan.
Ahsaan Ahmad issued notices for action and submission of report to Federal Ombudsman Secretariat on these applications to Ministry of Foreign Affairs for help, assistance, return of the stranded Pakistanis. He further asked that our Pak Missions in these respective countries to approach, liaison and help these stranded Pakistanis for their support and return to Pakistan.
It is learnt that sofar in view of present pandemic situation of Coronavirus and suspension of international flights operation to Pakistan, hundreds of Pakistanis stuck up in almost 88 different countries of world and many of them have approached Federal Ombudsman Secretariat for help, assistance and return to Pakistan.
Hafiz Ahsaan Ahmad khokhar Grievance Commissioner for Overseas Pakistanis in Federal Ombudsman Secretariat advised to relevant ministries to help and assist these stranded Pakistanis for their return to Pakistan. Up till now , with the special flights operation PIA hundreds of them have returned from different countries to Pakistan in recent days. …..
