J&K residents stranded in Pakistan to return from Thursday

SRINAGAR — The government is set to evacuate the residents of Jammu & Kashmir who are stranded in Pakistan due to lockdown imposed in both the countries to control the spread of deadly COVID-19.

Preeti Sharma, Manager J&K House, Amritsar, who is also Nodal officer for evacuation of J&K residents stranded in Pakistan, said that all arrangements are being put in place to ensure safe evacuation of J&K residents.

“As many as 402 persons from J&K have registered for their return,” she said, adding that the number will go up as more people are registering themselves for return through Wagah Border.

“The first batch will comprise of 250 persons while the second batch will consist of 152 persons,” she said, adding that the number is expected to increase as majority of those stranded belong to J&K.

“On first day, only J&K residents will be evacuated and 90 percent of those who will return on the second day are residents of J&K,” she said.

To a question whether there would be a separate COVID-19 protocol for those being evacuated from Pakistan, she said they would have to follow the protocol already unveiled by the administration of the Union Territory.

Meanwhile, the authorities today ordered that two officers of Hospitality & Protocol Department are deputed to Attari (Wagah Border), Amritsar, Punjab with effect from 24-06-2020 for receiving the returnees coming from Pakistan by road through Wagah Border on 25-06-2020 onwards.

Those deputed to Wagah border are Aamir Chowdhary (Asstt. Director, Directorate of Hospitality and Protocol) and Muneeb Umar (Asstt. Director, Directorate of Hospital and Protocol).

They have been directed to coordinate with Preeti Sharma, Nodal Officer for facilitating the return of those stranded in Pakistan.