WASHINGTON / RAWALPINDI: About 800 Pakistani-Americans have returned to the United States since last week, despite an unprecedented spread of the coronavirus across the US, diplomatic sources told Dawn.

They have been repatriated to the US via three chartered flights during the last three days as the last flight departed for Washington from the Islamabad airport with 254 passengers on Sunday.

After permission was granted by the Pakistan government, the US Embassy in Islamabad arranged special flights for those who wanted to return to their families in America.

The government had granted permission to the US embassy to operate three chartered flights, two from Islamabad and one from Karachi to repatriate American citizens on April 10, 11 and 12.

The permission to operate the three special flights was subject to the government’s SOPs in the existing circumstances of outbreak of Covid-19 as no disembarkation of flight crew or passengers from the aircraft was allowed at both the Karachi and Islamabad airports.

Flight carrying 205 Pakistanis arrives from Kuala Lumpur

Pakistan suspended all international passenger, chartered, and private inbound flights to Pakistan on March 21. On April 9, the restrictions were extended until April 21. Domestic flights are also suspended.

The US embassy had established facilitation service counters in the concourse areas of the airports in coordination with the managers concerned.

As the travelers approached the US facilitation counter at the Islamabad airport, scanning of passengers and other health checks were carried out by the officials concerned. Later, the Federal Investigation Agency’s immigration staff completed the process of immigration.

“The US Mission to Pakistan received thousands of requests for the April 10-12 flights. We were unable to accommodate everyone, and seats were prioritised for those most at risk for Covid-19,” said a statement issued by the US Embassy in Islamabad.

The most vulnerable people include those of 65 years or more and within this group persons with prior health problems, such as diabetes, asthma and heart disease.

Diplomatic sources in Washington say that the flights would bring about a thousand US citizens from Pakistan while future flights were also being planned.

US officials have asked American citizens still in Pakistan but wishing to return to the US to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Programme to receive alerts and updates on flight availability.

“If we can offer additional charter flights, US citizens should be prepared to depart on short notice and with limited baggage,” said an official statement. Those who decline the offer have been asked to “be prepared to remain in Pakistan indefinitely”.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has issued a memo, asking all nations to accept their citizens deported during the pandemic. The countries that refuse their citizens will be denied US visas.

“Countries that deny or unreasonably delay the acceptance of their citizens, subjects, nationals or residents from the US during the ongoing pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 create unacceptable public health risks for Americans,” Mr Trump wrote in the memo.

Pakistani deportees

The Pakistan International Airlines flight PK-895 carrying 205 Pakistanis, including three Pakistani deportees, arrived at the Islamabad International Airport from Kuala Lumpur.

On arrival, all the passengers and crew members were subjected to health tests and scanning at the airport for Covid-19.

According to sources, the three Pakistani deportees had travelled to Kuala Lumpur on Saturday night on PIA flight PK894 but they were deported back as the Malaysian government did not allow anybody to work on work visa permits so they were sent back by the return flight.

After a brief investigation the three were released by the FIA immigration but they were stopped from leaving by the PIA staff as they were asked to pay the fare of the return flight. One of the deportees paid the fare and was allowed to go home, but the remaining two were not allowed to leave the airport.

Published in Dawn, April 13th, 2020