ISLAMABAD: As mass evacuations of foreign nationals continue from strife-torn Libya, the Foreign Office on Monday said progress had been made for the repatriation of stranded Pakistanis with the help of friendly governments.

Pakistan has around 18,000 of its nationals in Libya.

“Our Missions in the region have clear instructions from the Foreign Ministry to facilitate early and safe repatriation of Pakistani expatriates to Pakistan,” a statement from the Foreign Office spokesperson said.

President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani taking note of the problems of stranded Pakistanis in Libya directed the Foreign Office Sunday to take immediate measures for the safety of Pakistani expatriates.

Pakistan embassy officials are working with the local authorities in Tunisia, Algeria, Egypt and Turkey to ensure prompt repatriation, especially of those Pakistanis who have arrived without proper documentation and passports, the statement said.

The Foreign Office said embassy officials have been sent to the Libyan border to receive arriving Pakistanis.

Arrangements were being made for the arrival of a group of Pakistanis by sea to Turkey from where they will be evacuated by air.

According to a private news channel, the Interior Minister, Rehman Malik ordered the DG passport to provide the Pakistanis stranded in Libya with the required traveling documents without any charges.

He also advised to set up separate counters at the airports where the concerned Pakistanis can register their data in order to streamline the procedure for their return.

Rehman Malik has also called the Ministry of Labor and Manpower, Foreign Ministry and other officials for a meeting on Wednesday.