Maryam Nawaz demands evacuation of stranded Pakistanis from Ukraine

Lahore: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) vice-president Maryam Nawaz has demanded the evacuation of Pakistanis stranded in the war-torn Ukraine.

In a tweet on Friday, he said, "Is there anyone listening to the entreaties of hundreds of Pakistani students stranded in Ukraine waiting to be evacuated?"

She said that hundreds of Pakistani students are hiding in underground stations. "The trapped students have been summoned to Kyiv Embassy, but now no one is contacting them. The students have reached there after buying tickets for US$3,000," she added.

Is there anyone listening to the entreaties of hundreds of Pakistani students stranded in Ukraine waiting to be evacuated ?

— Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) February 25, 2022

It may be recalled that 1,500 Pakistani including 500 students have been strained in Ukraine and Pakistani embassy has said that it was working for their safe evacuation or relocation from the war-affected areas.

The ambassador said that the embassy was in contact with Pakistani and they had been advised to leave Ukraine or relocate to safe regions. 

Pakistan’s Embassy in Ukraine announced in a tweet that Ukraine’s airspace was closed while the Embassy was communicating with Pakistani students who were unable to leave earlier than advised.

The Pakistani ambassador said that Pakistani nationals have been directed to reach Tarnopal city from where arrangements will be made for their evacuation. The Pakistani embassy said in a message on social networking site Twitter that those present should move to Trincomalee from where their possible departure would be arranged.

“The embassy in Ukraine is fully functional from Ternopil,” added the tweet.  The embassy can be reached at parepkyiv@gmail.com, while the following are the mobile numbers the embassy can be contacted on +380636965523, +380636968264, +380638282984, and +380664944004.

After the Russian invasion, the Pakistani Ambassador in Ukraine Nool Israel Khokhar advised Pakistani students in Ukraine to leave the country as soon as possible.

The ambassador held a virtual meeting with 40 Pakistani students and advised them to leave Ukraine immediately. However, he offered the full support of the embassy to those students who are not able to leave the country because of any compulsion.

Meanwhile, the embassy has written a letter to the Ukrainian Ministry of Education and Science, requesting an online education facility for Pakistani students until the situation comes to normal. 

Pakistani students have expressed their fear regarding the destruction of their educational future due to the situation created after the Russian attack on Ukraine.