Afghan refugees evacuation operation from Pakistan to UK begins

ISLAMABAD: The process of eviction of Afghan refugees living in Pakistan who are destined for the United Kingdom is set in motion today.

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has confirmed that all arrangements have been completed at Islamabad International Airport for this large-scale evacuation.

A total of 330 chartered planes are prepared for this massive operation to evacuate Afghan refugees, providing a lifeline to those in need. Special chartered flights will be arriving in Islamabad from the United Kingdom, with ground handling and coordination of these flights to be conducted by the national airline under the CAA’s supervision.

Pakistan decides to repatriate Afghan refugees

The first flight for the evacuation of Afghan refugees is scheduled to depart today at 12:30 noon, marking the beginning of a significant humanitarian effort. This inaugural flight will carry 230 Afghan refugees, and it is part of a larger operation that aims to evacuate more than 2000 Afghan refugees through a total of 12 flights, as announced by the Airport Manager.

The international collaboration between UK authorities and the Civil Aviation Authority has played a pivotal role in planning and executing this evacuation operation.

Airbus 330 aircraft will be operating from Islamabad once a week, ensuring a sustained effort to relocate Afghan refugees.

Earlier on October 3, the caretaker government had announced that law enforcement agencies would repatriate all individuals living illegally in Pakistan after the November 1 deadline’s expiration.