Off the wire
• Advisory-Uzbekistan-Presidential Election  • FLOOD KILLS DOZENS NEAR LAKE TANGANYIKA, BURUNDI  • Foreign leaders support Tunisians in anti-terror march  • P5+1 foreign ministers hold plenary nuke session in Lausanne  • WHO, UNOPS sign agreement to scale-up partnership in Africa's health  • 2nd LD Writethru: Nigeria's electoral body to commence final collation of ballots 48 hours after election  • Saudi-led air raids continue to hit Houthi targets in Yemen  • WHO reiterates continued support to defeat Ebola  • 1st LD Writethru: Preliminary results of Uzbek presidential election to be announced Monday, turnout at 91 pct  • East African bloc strongly condemns attack by al-Shabaab at hotel in Somalia's capital  
You are here: 　 Home

Pakistan starts evacuation of nationals from Yemen

Xinhua, March 30, 2015 Adjust font size:

Pakistan on Sunday started evacuation of its nationals from Yemen in the wake of the Saudi- led coalition air strikes against Hothi rebels, officials said.

A special plane of Pakistan International Airlines airlifted nearly 500 Pakistanis from the city of Al-Hudaydah.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has instructed sending more troops to bring Pakistanis from other cities, the PM office said.

Officials said there are around 3,000 Pakistanis in different cities of Yemen.

Officials briefed Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif about the evacuation plan. The first flight was scheduled to land in the port city of Karachi on late Sunday. Some of the passengers will later be sent to Islamabad in another plane.

The prime minister was further apprised that the city of Mukalla is still peaceful and its airport was functional. From Aden, a total of 150 Pakistanis would travel to Mukalla by road to join other 100 who were wishing to be evacuated.

Foreign Office spokesperson Tasnim Aslam said fighting is going on in Aden city where up to 200 Pakistanis are stranded.

Tasnim Aslam said one naval ship is also on its way to Aden and the government are contacting Chinese officials there to seek their help in the evacuation of Pakistanis. Endit