ISLAMABAD: Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry confirmed that preparations have been made to safely bring back Pakistanis stranded in Yemen, and that the government would leave no stone unturned in ensuring the safety of its citizens.

While addressing a press conference in the federal capital late Saturday, Aizaz said that a special ship of the Pakistan Navy will leave for Yemen on Sunday, while a PIA aeroplane is also ready and waiting for the go-ahead from Yemeni authorities, DawnNews reported.

The foreign secretary said that Pakistani authorities are in constant contact with Saudi authorities to ensure the safe return of Pakistanis from Yemen. “The situation in Yemen is turning bad and it's our priority to safely evacuate our people. There are around 3,000 Pakistanis residing in Yemen, of which around 1,000 are trying to leave the country and come back to Pakistan,” he explained.

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The Pakistani convoy travelling from Yemeni capital Sanaa will reach Al-Hadid in a few hours, from where it will be evacuated to safety, said Aizaz. “Pakistanis can also be shifted to Oman if need arises.”

Aizaz Chaudhry said that following the worsening situation in Yemen, the Pakistani embassy had already advised its citizens to think about leaving the country.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Friday had ordered the Pakistani mission in Yemen to take steps for the immediate evacuation of stranded Pakistani families in the troubled country.

He said people living in Yemen are vulnerable to all sorts of crimes including kidnapping as the state system there has collapsed.

According to diplomatic sources, Saudi Arabia has also assured its cooperation for the safe evacuation of Pakistanis stranded in Yemen.

Saudi Arabia and its Gulf allies launched military operations including air strikes in Yemen to counter Iran-backed forces besieging the southern city of Aden, where the US-supported Yemeni president had taken refuge.

Gulf broadcaster al-Arabiya TV reported that the kingdom was contributing as many as 150,000 troops and 100 warplanes to the operations and that allies Egypt, Jordan, Sudan and Pakistan were ready to take part in a ground offensive in Yemen.