CHAGAI: As many as 142 Pakistani citizens, including 136 pilgrims, arrived in the country from Iran while 31 Iranian nationals returned to their country after immigration clearance resumed for a few hours at Taftan border crossing in Chagai district on Thursday.

According to official sources, the Pakistani citizens were screened and later quarantined after their arrival in Taftan.

Meanwhile, a group of people already quarantined in Taftan protested against lack of facilities at the quarantine facility and demanded permission to go their hometowns.

The local authorities negotiated with the protesters and assured them that their demands would be met soon.

A Levies Force official told Dawn that a few people, who had spent more than 14 days at the quarantine in Taftan, would be allowed to go home after they were tested again for coronavirus in a mobile laboratory.

Published in Dawn, March 20th, 2020