Pakistani pilgrims stranded in Damascus are facing severe challenges due to escalating violence and security concerns and according to officials from the Pakistani Foreign Office, arrangements are being made for their safe evacuation.

Officials at the Pakistani embassy in Damascus informed the BBC that arrangements are underway for the repatriation of all Pakistanis in Syria.

A statement from the Foreign Office indicated that “for now, Damascus Airport is closed. Our embassy is in contact with Pakistanis stranded in Syria, including pilgrims. Assistance will be provided for their return as soon as the airport reopens.”

On Monday, the Prime Minister’s Office of Pakistan stated that Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif had directed the formation of a plan to ensure the safe evacuation of Pakistanis wishing to return from Syria through neighboring countries as soon as possible.

According to officials at the Pakistani embassy in Damascus, there are currently over 1,000 Pakistani citizens in Syria, including 260 pilgrims, who are being prioritized for return. A special request for flights has been sent to the Foreign Office for this purpose.

An official noted that “today, 81 pilgrims with return tickets were sent to Beirut.”

The Prime Minister’s Office stated that Shehbaz Sharif emphasized that “the safety of the lives and property of Pakistanis in Syria is our top priority, and all resources will be utilized for this purpose.”

It was reported that Sharif had a telephone conversation with Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati, requesting assistance for the immediate evacuation of stranded Pakistani citizens via Beirut.

The PM’s Office mentioned that the Lebanese Prime Minister assured that Lebanon would provide all possible assistance for the evacuation of Pakistanis from Syria.

The Prime Minister also instructed the embassy in Damascus to establish an information desk and a helpline for contacting Pakistanis.

He ordered that the Crisis Management Unit of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to maintain a 24-hour active information desk in embassies in Syria and neighboring countries until the security situation improves.

Meanwhile, according to state media, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar discussed potential cooperation between Pakistan and Turkey for the safety of Pakistani citizens with his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan.

Read more

Special PIA flight brings 71 Pakistanis home from Lebanon and Syria

Stranded Pakistanis in Iraq return home via two flights

PM directs ambassador in Kyrgyzstan to visit Pakistani students for support

A resident of Chiniot, Pakistan, shared that he traveled to Syria for pilgrimage but found himself stranded due to escalating violence. Scheduled to return on Sunday morning, he left for the airport on Saturday night, only to discover that all flights had been canceled amidst reports of gunfire and widespread fear among the Pakistani community, while speaking with BBC.

He described a chaotic scene at the airport where all officials fled, leaving travelers in fear. After being held for hours, he and his group managed to escape with the guidance of rebels, who assured them of safety. Once at their hotel, however, they faced high costs—$200 for a short trip and $30 per person per night—along with inadequate facilities amid ongoing gunfire echoing through the streets.

Many pilgrims are experiencing financial distress and have urgently requested assistance from the Pakistani embassy to facilitate their evacuation, expressing deep concerns for their safety.