QUETTA/RAWALPINDI: A total of 1,041 Pakistanis — both pilgrims and students — retur­ned home from Iran and Iraq on Monday.

According to officials, the Pak­istanis stranded in Iran were bro­ught to Taftan in eight passenger coaches. Among them were 545 pilgrims and 228 students.

The number of pilgrims who returned from Iraq was 268.

They were brought to Pakistan throu­­gh two flights from Basra — one to Karachi and the other to Islamabad.

In Iran, the pilgrims were seen off by officials of the Pakistani embassy in Tehran.

“As many as 773 Pakistanis — 558 pilgrims and 228 students — crossed into Pakistan from Iran on Monday,” an FIA official said.

Chaghi Deputy Commissioner Attaul Moneem and Taftan Assistant Commissioner Qasim Shahwani welcomed the students and the pilgrims at the border. “All facilities are being providing to the Pakistan nationals on their return from Iran,” the deputy commissioner said.

The students told the media that the Iranian authorities had closed all educational institutions and asked students to vacate their hostels after the outbreak of hostilities with Israel.

They said the Pakistani embassy had made arrangements to bring them to Tehran from different cities and for onward travel to the border.

The district administration said it would ensure that all Pakistani citizens returning from Iran are provided “respectful, safe and well-organised services” so that they can proceed to their homes without any difficulty.

Pilgrims return from Iraq

A total of 268 Pakistani pilgrims were repatriated from Iraq on Monday via two special flights from Basra to Karachi and Islam­abad as part of the government’s measures to ensure the safety of its nationals in Iran and Iraq.

Pakistani pilgrims stranded in Iran have started returning home through the land route due to the closure of that country’s airspace.

According to Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, the repatriation of Pakistani pilgrims from Iran had already been completed on Satu­rday, while the process of bringing back students was under way.

All Pakistani pilgrims in Iraq have been advised to stay in touch with the embassy in Baghdad and their airlines – designated as Mandoob – for information about their flight plans.

A press release issued by the Foreign Office said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in coordination with Iraqi Airways, facilitated the repatriation of 268 Pakistan nationals on Monday through two special flights from Basra — one to Karachi and the other to Islamabad.

Both flights reached Pakistan safely, according to the statement.

“The ministry remains actively engaged with Iraqi Airways and other authorities to ensure the safe and timely return of the remaining Pakistani Zaireen (pilgrims) in Iraq.

Published in Dawn, June 17th, 2025