ISLAMABAD: A special PIA flight sent to Tripoli has brought back over 200 stranded Pakistanis from Libya, yesterday.

Foreign Office Spokesperson Tasneem Aslam said that 509 Pakistanis had been earlier evacuated from the country, because of the security situation, through a special 747 flight.

Despite the challenging situation in Libya, the Pakistan Mission is fully functional and providing all required assistance to thousands of Pakistani expatriates.

The Pakistan Embassy in Tripoli has set up relief camps where over 1700 Pakistanis are being accommodated and provided all necessary help. They will be repatriated by special flights, or other land and sea routes being explored.

Efforts are also being made for the release of all detained Pakistani citizens in Libya.

Out of the total 175 Pakistani detainees, 107 have already been got freed and the release of the remaining is being pursued vigorously. Consular access is demanded for all detained Pakistani nationals to ensure their safety and welfare.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is liaising with the Ministry of Finance, Aviation Division and PIA for the massive relief and evacuation effort involving several thousand stranded Pakistanis, as per Prime Minister's instructions.

The excellent support it has received has greatly helped to ensure a timely and orderly relief and evacuation operation.