Govt announces new policy to repatriate stranded Pakistanis.

Byline: Mohammad Asghar

RAWALPINDI -- The government has announced a new policy to bring back Pakistanis stranded overseas which aims to bring back approximately 200,000 people within one month.

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on National Security Dr Moeed Yusuf and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Overseas Pakistanis Syed Zulfiqar Bukhari announced the new policy at the rest conference on Wednesday.

Dr Yusuf said that the new policy came from the realisation that 3pc of Covid-19 cases in the country were imported. He also said that Pakistanis have the right to return home and that they should not be stigmatised.

Mr Bukhari added that if travellers do not observe the 14-day self-quarantine and 'we have to close our airspace, you will create difficulty for those working abroad.'

According to the new policy, which will be enforced from June 20, all Pakistanis travelling back to the country will not be quarantined upon arrival and tested for Covid-19.

Instead, they will undergoscreeningupon arrival, after which asymptomatic passengers will be sent home and tracked by provincial authorities to ensure they isolate themselves for 14 days while symptomatic passengers will be tested and quarantined until their results come back, with the earlier choice between paid or government quarantine facilities.

People who test positive will be handled according to health protocols, while people who test negative will be allowed to return home and will be tracked by provincial authorities...