Malaysians stranded in Pakistan to be flown home Saturday

The government will bring back Malaysians stranded in Pakistan on Saturday, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said.

According to Hishammuddin, Malaysians wishing to return home would board a special Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight from Islamabad to Kuala Lumpur.

He said the decision was made following discussions with Pakistan Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi over a telephone conversation.

“With regard to the issue of our people being stranded, we agree that the people of both countries were allowed to return to their families.

"In this context, the ministry is asking the Pakistani government to provide assistance to Malaysians who want to return home and facilitate their movement to board a special PIA aircraft from Islamabad to Kuala Lumpur this Saturday," he said in a statement.

The Malaysian government will also provide the necessary assistance in the process of repatriating 300 Pakistanis who will board a PIA flight back to Pakistan.

Meanwhile, Hishammuddin said the two foreign ministers had agreed that Malaysia and Pakistan should work together to curb the COVID-19 outbreak.