Islamabad: Pakistan has finalised
arrangements to evacuate its nationals from Egypt if the
situation there further deteriorates, Foreign Office spokesman
Abdul Basit said today.
The Pakistani Embassy in Cairo is closely monitoring
the evolving situation following days of public protests
against the regime of President Hosni Mubarak.
"If required, and on the information of the Pakistani
Embassy in Cairo, an aircraft will be despatched to extract
Pakistani nationals," he said.
The Pakistani Embassy yesterday asked for a C-130
military transport aircraft to be placed on standby for
evacuating its nationals if the situation in Egypt further
worsens.
Basit said there were about 150 Pakistani families in
Egypt, most of them living in Cairo and Alexandria.
Pakistan is also in touch with other countries with
regard to the situation in Egypt, he said.
Pakistan`s Ambassador to Egypt Seema Naqvi told the
media that the Embassy had provided to the Foreign Office a
list of Pakistani nationals who wished to be evacuated.
Pakistan has also asked its nationals not to travel to Egypt as the situation there is "very fluid".
In a related development, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza
Gilani directed the Foreign Ministry to closely monitor and
assess the evolving security situation in Egypt and keep him
apprised of the welfare of the Pakistani community there.
He inquired about the safety of Pakistani nationals in
Egypt from the Foreign Ministry and the Pakistani Ambassador
in Cairo.
Gilani further directed the Foreign Ministry to draw
up a contingency plan to meet any emergent situation and to
ensure the safe exit of Pakistani nationals from Egypt.
PTI
