ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development was on Tuesday briefed on the situation of Pakistani nationals in the Middle Eastern countries amid rising regional tensions, with officials stating that arrangements are being made to facilitate stranded citizens and ensure their safe return.
Members raised concern over a sharp increase in commercial airfares during the crisis, particularly affecting low-income workers and pilgrims returning from Umrah. The committee held its meeting under the chairmanship of Syed Rafiullah, MNA, to receive a detailed briefing on regional security developments and the government’s response to stranded Pakistani nationals.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs presented its crisis management overview and informed the committee that the Crisis Management Unit (CMU) had been activated. Pakistani missions abroad have established special facilitation desks, registration portals and helplines, while mobile applications and daily data feeds are being maintained to monitor the situation.
The ministry reported that evacuation channels were operating through multiple land entry points, including Mirjaveh-Taftan, Gabd-Rimdan and Astara-Azerbaijan. Cooperation with host governments has enabled visa facilitation, temporary accommodation and transit support. The ministry confirmed that thousands of Pakistanis had already been facilitated to leave the affected areas through both land and air routes by the time of the briefing.
The committee was informed that the situation in Iran was the most perilous. The briefing noted civilian casualties, mass internal displacement, disrupted utilities and fuel rationing, with land border corridors remaining the principal evacuation routes. The members also reviewed country-specific presentations by community welfare attachés (CWAs) from Gulf missions.
Officials informed the committee that around 350,000 Pakistanis were residing in Qatar, where the overall situation remained stable despite lingering concerns. About 10,188 Pakistanis had registered with the mission in case evacuation became necessary. Of 215 Pakistanis who had been stranded, 97 had already returned to Pakistan, while the remaining were expected to depart on March 11. The committee was told that the Qatari government had provided accommodation, food and visa facilitation to stranded Pakistanis. Arrangements were also being made for the return of 55 Pakistani students who were expected to travel through Saudi Arabia via a land border route.
Briefing the committee on the situation in the United Arab Emirates, the officials said several Pakistanis had recently departed on flights from Dubai and Sharjah, while some had been repatriated on medical grounds. Two Pakistani drivers were reported to have died in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. One body had already been repatriated, while arrangements were underway to send the other to Pakistan. The Pakistani mission in the UAE reported more than 8,500 registrations, including 4,543 Pakistani passengers in transit. Of these, around 4,400 had already left the UAE through 40 commercial flights.
The committee was informed that approximately 2.5 million Pakistanis were residing in Saudi Arabia, where the situation remained tense but stable. Flights operated by the Pakistan International Airlines and other Pakistani carriers were continuing as usual, while stranded Pakistanis were being assisted on a case-by-case basis.
The officials also briefed the committee about the situation in Iraq, where around 40,000 Pakistanis were residing. They said the security situation remained uncertain following reports of Iranian drone and missile attacks on US bases near Baghdad and other locations. Arrangements were underway for the return of 1,277 Pakistanis, including around 450 pilgrims. The committee was informed that Iraqi airspace had been closed and Pakistani nationals were being brought back through land routes via Saudi Arabia and Türkiye.
The officials said about 101,976 Pakistanis were residing in Kuwait, where the situation was tense but under control, while around 382,000 Pakistanis were living in Oman, where conditions remained stable and flights were continuing. The committee was informed that about 134,064 Pakistanis were residing in Bahrain, where 1,940 citizens had registered with the mission in view of a possible emergency. Around 16,000 to 18,000 Pakistanis were living in Jordan, where the situation was described as stable. The officials also briefed the committee about Lebanon, where approximately 600 to 700 Pakistanis were residing. They said the security situation there was deteriorating due to Israeli airstrikes and ground operations, particularly in the southern and eastern parts of the country. Pakistani missions and CWAs are providing accommodation, meals and emergency visa facilitation, while teams have been stationed at land-border transit points. Coordination arrangements with neighbouring missions, including those in Azerbaijan and Saudi Arabia, have also been established to expedite onward travel.
The committee heard that flights were operating at reduced capacity and that ticket prices had surged, creating hardship for low-income travellers and stranded Umrah pilgrims. The members acknowledged the extensive consular work being carried out by the community welfare attachés and diplomatic staff. The committee urged the government to explore contingency arrangements with airlines, including the national carrier Pakistan International Airlines, as well as charter options to ensure affordable and timely return options for Pakistani nationals facing hardship.
The members commended the efforts of diplomatic staff and CWAs working under difficult circumstances, while emphasizing the need for stronger institutional preparedness for similar emergencies. The committee urged Pakistani ambassadors to personally meet stranded nationals and help resolve their issues.
Following a detailed discussion, the committee directed the ministry to prepare and submit a comprehensive evacuation framework and standard operating procedures (SOPs) for future crises, including coordination mechanisms with airlines, host governments and border authorities.
