RAWALPINDI: After the government allowed Emirates to operate a special flight from Dubai to Islamabad, a special flight of the airline carrying 251 stranded Pakistanis arrived at Islamabad International Airport on Thursday.

A senior official of the Aviation Division said that Emirates had been granted permission to operate one Dubai-Islamabad flight to repatriate stranded Pakistanis. The Emirates special flight EK-613 carrying 251 Pakistanis arrived at Islamabad International Airport at 3.50pm and later departed for Dubai.

On arrival, all the passengers were shifted to different quarantine centres in Islamabad for 24 hours for medical tests related to Covid-19.

The airline had already increased health measures at Dubai International Airport and on board its aircraft to limit the spread of coronavirus.

Likewise, the Pakistani health and civil aviation authorities had already put in place all possible measures to ensure the safety of passengers and airlines crew against the spread of Covid-19 at all airports across the country.

Besides, physical distancing and other protective measures are being strictly implemented at airports.

On the other hand, the government has also allowed Egypt Air to operate a relief flight on May 23 to bring back stranded Pakistanis to their home country.

The special flight will be operated from Cairo to Islamabad carrying about 50 Pakistanis.

Published in Dawn, May 22nd, 2020