Amid escalating regional instability, the Government of Pakistan has initiated a series of urgent measures to ensure the safety and well-being of its nationals stranded abroad, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar announced on Sunday.

In a statement shared on social media, Dar confirmed that 450 Pakistani pilgrims (zaireen) have been successfully evacuated from Iran as of yesterday. Additionally, the government is arranging the safe evacuation of Pakistani students residing in Iran, with the first batch comprising 154 students.

“Our Embassy in Iraq is actively engaged with Pakistani zaireen who are currently stranded due to airspace closure,” the minister said. He assured that efforts are underway to ensure their secure stay in Iraq and facilitate their possible evacuation.

The Foreign Office’s Crisis Management Unit (CMU) has been placed on high alert and is operating round the clock. The CMU can be reached via phone at +92 51-9207887 or email at [email protected].

Dar emphasized that Pakistani embassies across the region are in close coordination to support all nationals and zaireen during this critical time.

These steps come in light of the evolving regional situation, which has raised security concerns for overseas Pakistanis, particularly those in conflict-prone areas.