Pak govt cuts ticket fares to repatriate stranded Pakistanis

DUBAI: The government of Pakistan has reduced the ticket fares to repatriate stranded Pakistanis across the world but the national carrier has divided the passengers in three different categories and brought the ticket price to the same cost.

In the press release, the Pakistan Consulate in Dubai said that the new tariff was issued by the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA). The new fares and categories will be effective from April 25, according to the press statement.

Now, one way ticket price would be from Dh810 (Rs35,500) to Dh2200 (Rs96,500) for special flights to Pakistan, mentioned in the consulate’s statement. Hundreds of stranded Pakistanis seeking to return to their homeland were surprised to know the introduction of three different categories in special flights.

More than 500 Pakistanis reached the consulate on Sunday and requested the diplomatic mission to arrange flights for their repatriation. While, many took their grievances to the social media platforms and posted their exasperation under the official twitter account of the Pakistan Consulate Dubai and Pakistan Embassy Abu Dhabi.

Interestingly, some have posted the images of exuberant ticket price and waiting for the response of the diplomatic missions. Although, the Pakistan Consulate Dubai asked the community to inform the mission if anyone had raised the ticket price mentioned in the press statement.

“If anyone is charging more than the above rates for PIA Special Flights, please lodge complaint with the Consulate General of Pakistan, Dubai”, was clearly stated in the press release.

On Saturday night, the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis announced 21 special flights that will be operated from May 1 to 10 to repatriate stranded Pakistanis from the UAE. Around 4,370 Pakistanis are expected to be repatriated by these flights.

The diplomatic officials announced several times that tickets can only be purchased at “designated place” but hundreds of stranded Pakistanis do not know these designated and secret place. While, the Pakistani missions in the UAE reiterated that they have been retrieving the passengers from the online registration forms.