Pakistanis in Middle East: No Mass Evacuation Required, NA Committee

Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has told a parliamentary committee that the situation facing Pakistani nationals in the Middle East does not require a mass evacuation. The assurance came during a briefing to the National Assembly Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistanis on March 10, presided over by PPP MNA Syed Agha Rafiullah.

The head of the MoFA's Crisis Management Cell gave a detailed breakdown of how many Pakistanis are stranded across various Middle Eastern countries and what steps are being taken to assist them.

Pakistanis Stranded in UAE and Qatar

According to Dawn, the Mission in Qatar recorded over 10,000 registrations with 215 people classified as actively stranded, most of whom were being assisted at the time of the briefing. The Mission in the UAE reported over 8,500 registrations, including 4,543 Pakistani passengers in transit, of whom 4,400 had already departed via 40 commercial flights.

An official from the Pakistani diplomatic mission in Abu Dhabi told the committee that the situation was under control and that assistance was being provided only to people stranded at airports. He said 14 Pakistanis departed from Dubai and six from Sharjah through flights on Monday.

Two Pakistanis died in incidents related to the interception of missiles, one each in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. Both were drivers by profession. One body has been repatriated to Pakistan while the second had not yet been dispatched at the time of the briefing.

Country-by-Country Breakdown

In Saudi Arabia, where around 2.5 million Pakistanis reside, the situation was described as tense but stable. Air and land borders remain open, and PIA and Pakistani private airlines are operating normally. Facilities were provided to 163 stranded Pakistanis, with 91 already returned to Pakistan from Riyadh by air.

Around 350,000 Pakistanis live in Qatar. The country's airspace has been partially reopened and a limited number of commercial flights are operating. Of 215 stranded Pakistanis, 97 had already returned home, with the remainder expected to depart on March 11.

In Iraq, where around 40,000 Pakistanis reside, the security situation was described as tense. Iranian drone and missile attacks on US bases near Baghdad Airport have been reported. Iraq's airspace is closed, and arrangements are underway for the return of 1,277 Pakistanis, including around 450 pilgrims, via land routes through Saudi Arabia and Turkey.

Kuwait, home to around 101,976 Pakistanis, has closed its airspace though no Pakistani is currently reported stranded. In Oman, where around 382,000 Pakistanis live, the situation is stable and flights by PIA, AirSial, SalamAir, and Oman Air are operating. In Bahrain, 81 Pakistanis living near the US naval base have been relocated to safe shelters.

Lebanon, which has a smaller Pakistani population of 600 to 700, was described as rapidly deteriorating due to intensified Israeli airstrikes and ground operations. In Jordan, around 16,000 to 18,000 Pakistanis reside and the situation was reported stable, with no Pakistani reported stranded.

Airline Fares and Operational Challenges

Committee members raised serious concerns over the sharp rise in airline fares, particularly by Pakistan International Airlines. The briefing also noted that limited flights and increased demand had made alternative tickets extremely expensive.

Other challenges cited included disruptions to air travel with most commercial flights suspended in conflict zones, a rapidly changing security environment requiring real-time planning, and uncertainty about the duration of the conflict requiring continuous operational preparedness.

Pakistanis facing fuel shortages and the absence of public transport in various countries were also flagged as significant difficulties.