Islamabad: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar announced comprehensive steps by the government to aid Pakistanis stranded in Iran and Gulf countries. He addressed media personnel in the capital, shedding light on the current situation in the Middle East and the specific challenges faced by stranded Pakistani nationals.

According to Radio Pakistan, Ishaq Dar emphasized the establishment of special facilitation desks to assist returning Pakistani nationals. The Crisis Management Unit at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is operational round-the-clock, providing necessary contact information on its official X handle. Pakistan's embassy in Abu Dhabi, along with consulates in Jeddah and Dubai, are actively engaged in supporting these nationals.

Furthermore, Dar highlighted that three facilitation centers have been set up in Tehran, Zahedan, and Mashhad, Iran, to guide and support Pakistanis. The government is in constant communication with foreign ministers and senior officials of various countries to ensure all possible assistance is extended to stranded Pakistanis.

The Deputy Prime Minister expressed gratitude towards Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Iran, and Azerbaijan for their cooperation in supporting the Pakistani diaspora. He reported that 792 Pakistanis have returned from Iran, where approximately 33,000 Pakistanis currently reside. Despite the closure of airspaces, except in Oman and Saudi Arabia, land routes remain open and are being utilized for evacuations. Assistance is also being provided to Pakistani pilgrims in Iraq, where airspace restrictions persist.