Covid-19: Stranded Pakistanis in UAE welcome special flights

Stranded Pakistanis in the UAE welcomed the special flights initiative by the UAE and Pakistani governments and said emergency cases should be considered on priority while selling tickets to registered people at the consultate.

Talking to Khaleej Times, some Pakistanis complained about the lack of awareness about ticket purchase for special flights and said priority should be given to emergency cases.
Also read: Special PIA flight to repatriate stranded Pakistanis today
Pregnant cases

Aishah Anis Khanani, who is pregnant and stuck in Dubai for a month, is willing to pay any price for the seat in Karachi-bound flight this week.
"My wife is 6-month pregnant and will not be able to travel after few weeks due to her condition. We have already filled the repatriation form but no one has contacted so far," Saifullah Tariq, husband of Aishah Anis Khanani, told Khaleej Times.
"Please consider her case on priority as it will be very difficult in few week time to travel alone and go through quarantine process in Pakistan because of her condition," Tariq said.
Saima Mazhar from Sharjah echoed a similar message and appealed the authorities concerned to consider her case on priority. "I am pregnant and live alone as my husband is stuck outside the UAE due to flights disruption. I want to join my family in Karachi as soon as possible, pls consider my case on priority," she said.

Muhammad Zeeshan from Malakand in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province is also looking for a seat in Islamabad or Peshawar-bound special flight to see his ailing father.
"I'm desperately looking for the ticket in special flight because my father's medical condition is very serious and I want to go Pakistan as soon as possible. I request authorities concerned to consider my case on humanity basis," Zeeshan told Khaleej Times.
Job losses

In addition to emergency cases, people who lost jobs due to coronavirus outbreak, are also looking for seats in special flights to Pakistan.

Nauman Minhas, a resident of Dubai, lost his job and is keen to join his family in Pakistan. "I lost my job and I want to go to my country Pakistan," Minhas said.

Rehan Khan also lost job in the UAE and wants to go back as soon as possible. "It is very difficult to survive here without a job. I want to buy a ticket in Islamabad-bound special flight," Khan said.
Unlucky visitors

Muhammad Uzair, a resident of Karachi, arrived in the UAE to explore job market in February and stuck following ban imposed by Pakistan on scheduled flights in March. He booked his luggage on Emirates a day before the ban was imposed on March 21 and since then he stuck in very odd situation.
"I have been spending my days in public park in Dubai and nights in some area mosques or shelters as I exhausted funds. It's really toughest time I have faced in my life," Uzair, who is in early 20s, told Khaleej Times.
Ali Tabassam, a 20-year young from Lahore, also came to the UAE to check his luck but unfortunately stuck in the bad situation following a flight disruption between the two countries in the wake of coronavirus outbreak.
"My family is worried as I stuck in Sharjah due to flights suspension. I'm missing my family and want to go back at the earliest," he said.

- muzaffarrizvi@khaleejtimes.com