From time to time, there is an episode or an event that makes us proud to belong to this country. The successful evacuation of more than 500 Pakistanis from Yemen over the weekend is one such example.

Both the Foreign Office and PIA deserve credit and a round of applause for a tough task executed well. More specifically, the Pakistani ambassador in Sanaa, and the entire embassy team there, did a heroic job arranging a large bus convoy to transport all the Pakistanis there to safety, overcoming great dangers along the way.

The convoy was stopped and the documentation of each traveller checked along the way, putting their lives in danger as the conflict raged around them. But they made the journey to safety under the leadership provided by the embassy team, and as they landed here in Pakistan, the whole country heaved a sigh of relief.

PIA did its part too in rapidly arranging an aircraft, along with a back-up plane ready to be dispatched if the need arose. Additionally, a corridor had to be opened up for the plane to fly through treacherous skies, which was complicated by the fact that Yemen’s airspace has been shut down by the Saudis while the air strikes are under way.

The fact that the plane made it there, and successfully lifted all Pakistani citizens out of danger and brought them safely back to their country, was an enormous job. It’s been gratifying to see our institutions, PIA, the Foreign Office, the CAA and the Ministry of Defence, all working together and coordinating to ensure that this vitally important mission succeed.

The smooth execution of the operation has brought credit to these institutions and Pakistani citizens can take a moment of pride to absorb the fact their government pulled together to come through for its citizens in their hour of need. This was a job well done indeed, and those who were part of it deserve our gratitude.

Published in Dawn, March 31st, 2015

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