PIA prepared to bring stranded Pakistanis from Yemen‏

E-Paper | April 28, 2026

ISLAMABAD: Two Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) planes are ready to depart for Yemen on Saturday in order to bring back the Pakistanis currently stranded there in wake of the military offensive launched by Saudi Arabia and its allies on Huthi rebels in Yemen, spokesman for the PM house told Dawn.

The planes will depart as soon as they receive clearance from aviation authorities and the Embassy of Pakistan in Sanaa, the spokesman said.

Upon directions of the Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif a comprehensive plan has been devised for the evacuation of Pakistanis stranded in Yemen.

The spokesman said as state system is collapsing in the war-torn country, most airports are no more functional, because of which some families would be safely taken to Yemen's neighbouring countries in the form of convoys and airlifted to Pakistan from there.

The prime minister has directed the Embassy of Pakistan in Yemen as well as other concerned departments to take all possible measures for ensuring safety of each and every member of the Pakistani community living in Yemen.

In a statement the premier said, "our hearts beat with our brothers and sisters in distress".

The spokesman said the prime minister is himself monitoring the situation and has asked to be kept updated on an hourly basis.

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Babay

Mar 28, 2015 03:19pm

A good move lauded and please ensure to brig all of them safely to home.

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zask

Mar 28, 2015 04:01pm

Yet many ppl believe PIA should be privatized. This is the importance of National Airline.

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Kamal Gupta

Mar 28, 2015 04:25pm

What kind of nonsense is this? There are no working airstrips left in Yemen that can take commercial aircrafts. And the country is being strafed by Saudi, UAE and other air forces.

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oki

Mar 28, 2015 04:34pm

The stranded families are in big time trouble. Their food and water is running out and some of them are huddled together in groups. The Pak govt. is as usual late to wake up to the issue - the Pakistanis MUST BE BROUGHT HOME SAFELY AT ALL COSTS

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ahmed

Mar 28, 2015 04:38pm

PM sb though i m a PTI supporter but i would like to appreciate and thank you for all the positive steps that your govt is taking for the last 1 month from Karachi operation to Moody's rating,LNG and now Yemen crisis!!!way to go MR PM!!! .We should appreciate all the positive steps that bring security,stability, prosperity and positive image to Pakistan, irrespective of the fact,who is taking those step. Its not about personal likings and dislikings but its about our motherland Pakistan.

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M.Saeed

Mar 28, 2015 04:42pm

The operation must have an air force cover from Pakistan.

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Reader

Mar 28, 2015 04:48pm

What is government doing? send some army & air force units & evacuate all Pakistanis from their.

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shamain

Mar 28, 2015 05:01pm

@Reader We must send our hypercrafts if already not done so.

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simba

Mar 28, 2015 05:21pm

Send in the SSG commandos, they get paid and trained for moments like this.

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shamain

Mar 28, 2015 05:31pm

@Kamal Gupta That's why we should send our hypercrafts, they don't need any airstrips.

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shamain

Mar 28, 2015 05:33pm

@zask Not required to send PIA , staff will ask for bribe before letting people in and will bring in smuggled goods at this time as nobody will check, we should send our top secret hypercrafts.

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Zak

Mar 28, 2015 05:47pm

@shamain I am curious , what is a Hypercraft , please shed more light on this , to satisfy the thirst of knowledge among our Dawn readers.

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Pup

Mar 28, 2015 06:04pm

I feel sorry for Pakistanis around the world. They have always been the victim of wrong policies of their govt. Nothing ever has been done for them in a positive way. The latest case is of Pakistanis in Yemen.They have been thrown into the fire without a thought about them with wrong decision of siding with SA.

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Syed Ganga Din

Mar 28, 2015 06:05pm

Why government has to evacuate them? These people went there on their own and they should be responsible for their exit.

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Zak

Mar 28, 2015 06:21pm

@Syed Ganga Din Have some humanity , they went their to earn a living , not for picnic, there are women , children how will they safely exit , it is war zone, think if your own family was in such a situation , what would you have done.

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Random Indian

Mar 28, 2015 06:28pm

@Kamal Gupta It seems you like to comment before you read the article... The spokesman said as state system is collapsing in the war-torn country, most airports are no more functional, because of which some families would be safely taken to Yemen's neighbouring countries in the form of convoys and airlifted to Pakistan from there.

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Canada

Mar 28, 2015 06:29pm

Its probably safer to stay in Yemen then fly PIA!

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NHM

Mar 28, 2015 06:32pm

The Govt should have brought the stranded Pakistanis before publicly announcing support for their masters (Saudis). Its no longer safe for PIA to enter Yemen now

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Fajar

Mar 28, 2015 06:34pm

Passenger Planes can not move in war torn areas and nearby airports are not in good condition to land or take off as reported in press, families will be moved to safer place to fly back home. efforts of Government should be lauded

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Rashid Sultan

Mar 28, 2015 06:50pm

The rescue mission should be a joint IndoPak effort. The two embassy chiefs should get together for the rescue operation. It makes sense as India has ships air crafts and other facilities it should join with our facilities and organise to evacuate all stranded Indians and Pakistanis.

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Fiz

Mar 28, 2015 07:13pm

@Syed Ganga Din heartless comment. Yemen is not an illegal country and there were no sanctions to work in it.

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Kobe

Mar 28, 2015 07:13pm

@Zak Recently PIA also rescued the Pakistani cricket squad from Australia. The team was being strafed by Aussie bowlers. PIA bravely landed there and brought the team back to the safety of Lahore's gully mohallas.

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Beautifulmind

Mar 28, 2015 07:24pm

@Syed Ganga Din This is the main responsibility of a state to protect her citizen ,No question asked, answering to your question, if the govt will ever provide the opportunities, no one will ever go abroad to work, SO Please let the govt. work.

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oki

Mar 28, 2015 07:26pm

It is the right of every citizen that their safety be taken into consideration. That is why embassies and consulates exist. India has already sent transportation for evacuation of their citizens. Pakistan should also ensure safety of its citizens FIRST AND FOREMOST

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MAlvi

Mar 28, 2015 07:42pm

@M.Saeed How an air cover is possible by Pakistan? Bear in mind, Pakistan is not America.

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event horizon

Mar 28, 2015 10:01pm

Middle East in turm-OIL does that makes sense.

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Syed Ganga Din

Mar 28, 2015 10:04pm

@Beautifulmind : Stop beating the drums of government do this and government do that. Stand up and take what's yours. Either you will successfully take it or you will die. Either way that's more honorable.

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zeenat

Mar 28, 2015 10:12pm

@Syed Ganga Din There is no honor in death , survive at any cost should be the motto.

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Syed Ganga Din

Mar 28, 2015 10:24pm

@zeenat : You missed the point but I am not surprised.

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A Shah

Mar 28, 2015 10:33pm

Who will bring the PIA aircraft back lol we can't afford the fuel.

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A Shah

Mar 28, 2015 10:33pm

I think they are better off there! Pakistan is a basket case

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Omar

Mar 28, 2015 10:42pm

@Canada this coming from some refugee cum Canadian on welfare. PIA is a great airline to fly. I would trust my own PIA pilot any day over any other international pilot.

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ZAK

Mar 28, 2015 10:51pm

@A Shah Not Basket it is Casket .

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zeenat

Mar 28, 2015 11:03pm

@Syed Ganga Din Now are you !!!

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sana

Mar 29, 2015 02:17am

when the embassy asked them to evacuate on 27th feb they said they don't wanna come, now they are demanding special flights...

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LULU

Mar 29, 2015 04:12am

The prime minister shouldn't have expressed support for either side until all Pakistanis had been evacuated safely. That would've been a better move.

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