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Pakistan's first flight carrying 503 stranded passengers arrive from Yemen

Xinhua, March 30, 2015 Adjust font size:

A Pakistani plane, carrying 503 nationals stranded in the war-torn Yemen, arrived in the country late on Sunday night.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had directed airlifting of nationals from Yemen where the Saudi Arabia-led coalition has continued airstrikes against the Shiite Houthi rebels.

The first Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) landed in the port city of Karachi to drop some passengers and brought 392 to capital Islamabad.

A Pakistani aviation adviser said that a group of 250 more Pakistanis will be evacuated by Tuesday and a plane will soon be sent to Yemen.

Pakistan Ambassador to Yemen Irfan Yousaf, who also arrived with the first group, told reporters in Islamabad that 250 to 300 Pakistanis are still stranded in Yemen. He said a crisis management cell has been set up at the embassy to coordinate the evacuation.

The ambassador said those Pakistanis, who are left in Aden as the city's airport has been destroyed due to airstrikes, are facing problems to leave.

The first group of Pakistanis, who had gathered from Eden and other areas, was airlifted from the city of Al-Hudaydah.

A passenger said that they also heard airstrikes around the Hudaydah airport; however, the airport runway was functional for landing and take-off.

Another passenger said that Pakistanis faced a difficult situation when the Saudi media reported that Pakistan has joined the Arab coalition in airstrikes against the rebels.

Pakistan said it is not part of the Saudi-led military action but the country's defence minister said Pakistan will defend Saudi Arabia if its territorial integrity was threatened.

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

Foreign Office spokesperson Tasnim Aslam said fighting is going on in Aden city where up to 200 Pakistanis are stranded and a naval ship is on its way to the Aden port to evacuate them.

The PIA plane landed at 3:30 a.m. at Islamabad Airport where Information Minister Pervez Rashid and members of the parliament welcomed the passengers. A large number of relatives were also at the airport to receive the passengers.

The minister said that all stranded Pakistanis will be evacuated from Yemen on the direction of the prime minister. Endi