Pakistanis stranded in the UAE can book repatriation flight tickets directly with airlines and do not need an approval from their consulate.
The announcement was made during a press conference by the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development (MoPRHD) on Wednesday.
Direct booking with airlines will start from June 20.
The policy applies to more than 200,000 Pakistani citizens who are stranded in different parts of the world. Of these, 54,536 are in the UAE.
Until now, citizens are required to register with the General Consulate of Pakistan in Dubai and wait for an approval before purchasing flight tickets.
“People can book their flights commercially the way they used to,” said Dr Moeed Yusuf, the national security adviser to the Pakistani prime minister.
“The National Command Operation Centre (of Pakistan) will no longer decide which passenger can re-enter Pakistan, nor will the passenger have to communicate with their embassy.”
Since outbound and inbound UAE flights were suspended in mid-March, 82,456 citizens were stranded in the emirates – majority of whom were either laid off, were on paid or unpaid leave.
A massive crowd of Pakistanis gathered outside the consulate two months ago, to demand an official response on when they could return to their home country.
The National Command Operation Centre (of Pakistan) will no longer decide which passenger can re-enter Pakistan, nor will the passenger have to communicate with their embassy
So far, more than 20,000 citizens have already been repatriated from the UAE.
Emirates airline and Pakistan International Airlines are currently operating flights from the UAE to different cities across Pakistan.
Dr Yusuf said all airlines will be allowed to operate in Pakistan. This means low-cost Pakistani airlines, such as Air Blue, can resume operations.
He said the bringing back 40,000 to 45,000 Pakistanis abroad per week from June 20 onwards will be the new goal.
“This policy will help us potentially bring all of our stranded Pakistanis within one month,” he said.
“Those returning to Pakistan will be required to quarantine for 14 days, however, not all passengers will be screened for Covid-19 but thermal screening will take place.”
He said only symptomatic people will be screened and will be either sent to quarantine facilities or will be asked to self isolate at home.
Thermal screening will be carried out at the airports and authorities will use a "track and trace" system to monitor passengers after they go home.
Dr Yusuf said overseas Pakistanis “should not be stigmatised” about returning to their home country and “bringing the virus with them”.
Pakistan reported 5,839 new cases of Covid-19 on Wednesday, taking the infections to 154,760, including 2,975 deaths.
He said only three per cent of the Covid-19 spread in Pakistan has been caused by passengers arriving into the country and 96 per cent is locally transmitted.
“They have the right to come back to their home country. Please do not stigmatise them. They will not be the reason for the spread and will be brought back safely,” said Dr Yusuf.
Sayed Bukhari, special assistant to the prime minister for MoPHRD, said a new integrated programme was being launched for workers who have been laid off.
He asked Pakistanis who are returning to the country to register on the Overseas Employment Corporation website.
In the UAE, 21,843 Pakistanis have been laid off since restrictions were put in place and 34,397 are on paid or unpaid leave.
if you go
The flights
Etihad and Emirates fly direct from the UAE to Seoul from Dh3,775 return, including taxes
The package
Ski Safari offers a seven-night ski package to Korea, including five nights at the Dragon Valley Hotel in Yongpyong and two nights at Seoul CenterMark hotel, from £720 (Dh3,488) per person, including transfers, based on two travelling in January
The info
Visit www.gokorea.co.uk
Essentials
The flights
Whether you trek after mountain gorillas in Rwanda, Uganda or the Congo, the most convenient international airport is in Rwanda’s capital city, Kigali. There are direct flights from Dubai a couple of days a week with RwandAir. Otherwise, an indirect route is available via Nairobi with Kenya Airways. Flydubai flies to Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo, via Entebbe in Uganda. Expect to pay from US$350 (Dh1,286) return, including taxes.
The tours
Superb ape-watching tours that take in all three gorilla countries mentioned above are run by Natural World Safaris. In September, the company will be operating a unique Ugandan ape safari guided by well-known primatologist Ben Garrod.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, local operator Kivu Travel can organise pretty much any kind of safari throughout the Virunga National Park and elsewhere in eastern Congo.
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
Dates for the diary
To mark Bodytree’s 10th anniversary, the coming season will be filled with celebratory activities:
- September 21 Anyone interested in becoming a certified yoga instructor can sign up for a 250-hour course in Yoga Teacher Training with Jacquelene Sadek. It begins on September 21 and will take place over the course of six weekends.
- October 18 to 21 International yoga instructor, Yogi Nora, will be visiting Bodytree and offering classes.
- October 26 to November 4 International pilates instructor Courtney Miller will be on hand at the studio, offering classes.
- November 9 Bodytree is hosting a party to celebrate turning 10, and everyone is invited. Expect a day full of free classes on the grounds of the studio.
- December 11 Yogeswari, an advanced certified Jivamukti teacher, will be visiting the studio.
- February 2, 2018 Bodytree will host its 4th annual yoga market.
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
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The biog
Favourite book: Men are from Mars Women are from Venus
Favourite travel destination: Ooty, a hill station in South India
Hobbies: Cooking. Biryani, pepper crab are her signature dishes
Favourite place in UAE: Marjan Island
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
Where to donate in the UAE
The Emirates Charity Portal
You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.
The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments
The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.
Al Noor Special Needs Centre
You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.
Beit Al Khair Society
Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.
Dar Al Ber Society
Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.
Dubai Cares
Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.
Emirates Airline Foundation
Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.
Emirates Red Crescent
On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.
Gulf for Good
Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.
Noor Dubai Foundation
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).
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Karnataka Tuskers 110-5 (10 ovs)
Tharanga 48, Shafiq 34, Rampaul 2-16
Delhi Bulls 91-8 (10 ovs)
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Karnataka Tuskers win by 19 runs
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Milivojevic 76' (pen), Van Aanholt 88'
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MATCH INFO
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RB Leipzig 5 (Werner 11', 48', 75', Poulsen 23', Sabitzer 36')
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