Islamabad, June 18, 2025: A special PIA flight bringing back 107 Pakistanis stranded in Iran reached Islamabad early Wednesday, according to the PIA airline, following several days of travel disruptions due to regional airspace closures.
According to PIA, flight PK-9552, operated on the government’s directive, departed from Ashgabat, the capital of Turkmenistan, and reached Islamabad International Airport at 3am.
The stranded Pakistanis had made their way to Turkmenistan via roads after direct departures from Iran became impossible due to growing conflict.
READ MORE: Pakistan to Host Iranian Hajj Pilgrims Stranded in Saudi Arabia
“Due to the closure of Iranian airspace, Pakistani nationals in Iran had to reach Turkmenistan through ground routes,” PIA noted, adding that the evacuation effort was managed with the support of Pakistan’s diplomatic missions in Tehran and Ashgabat.
READ MORE: Israel Hits Iranian Cities Again; Trump Urges to ‘Strike a Deal’
“Our missions in Iran and Turkmenistan played a key role in facilitating this process,” the airline further said. Most of the Pakistanis stranded in Iran were short-term visitors, religious pilgrims, or laborers affected by the recent flare-up in the region.
Iran had closed its airspaces to commercial flights last week following increased military escalations, in the wake of Israeli attacks on Iran and growing concerns about a broader conflict.
