ISLAMABAD: A PIA airplane and a naval vessel departed from Karachi on Sunday to evacuate Pakistani citizens and diplomatic staff stranded in war-torn Yemen, as Saudi-led air strikes hammered Houthi rebel targets.
“Two jets have been arranged on the advice of Prime Minister Nawaz Shareef. We have received clearance from Yemeni and Saudi authorities. The flights will reach Al Hudeida airport to evacuate Pakistanis,” said Shujaat Azeem, the Prime Minister’s Special Assistant on Aviation.
According to latest reports, a PIA plane had departed from Karachi. The Boeing 747 jet is scheduled to land at the Al Hudeida airport between 3 pm to 4 pm Pakistani time and will begin its return flight after around 1.5 hours of stay.
The first flight will bring 482 citizens back to Pakistan, said Pakistan's ambassador in Yemen Irfan Shami.
"95 per cent Pakistanis will soon be evacuated from Yemen," said Shami.
A second Airbus airplane is expected to depart from Pakistan around 2 pm to bring the next batch of citizens safely back to Pakistan. The Airbus 310 has a seating capacity of 227.
A Pakistan Navy vessel also sailed around Sunday noon from Karachi for the Gulf of Aden.
The frigate is ‘fully-prepared’ and will stay present in the Gulf of Aden to aid in the evacuation process if needed, said a Pakistan Navy spokesman.
The Pakistan navy is fully-prepared for any kind of operation in peace or war, he added.
A second frigate of the Pakistan Navy is expected to leave Sunday evening. Sources told Geo News that helicopters will also be present for the security of both vessels and those board.
The News International Pakistan
