Islamabad, Dec 16: Information Minister Ataullah Tarar on Sunday expressed gratitude to his Lebanese counterpart for ensuring the safe evacuation of hundreds of Pakistani nationals from Syria this week, reiterating Pakistan’s commitment to deepening relations with Lebanon.
Over 1,300 Pakistanis had been stranded in Syria since last week after opposition forces seized Damascus, prompting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to flee to Russia.
Following the crisis, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif contacted his Lebanese counterpart to coordinate the evacuation. As a result, more than 300 stranded Pakistanis were flown to Islamabad via a chartered flight from Beirut on Friday.
“The Federal Minister for Information conveyed his appreciation to Lebanon’s leadership for facilitating the swift evacuation of Pakistani citizens through Beirut,” the Ministry of Information stated in a press release.
Tarar is currently in Türkiye on a three-day visit to attend the Stratcom Summit 2024 in Istanbul, where he met Lebanon’s Information Minister Ziad Makary to discuss strengthening bilateral relations.
Tarar highlighted that the Lebanese prime minister acted swiftly following his discussion with Prime Minister Sharif, ensuring support for Pakistani evacuees. “Pakistan and Lebanon share a bond of brotherhood and mutual warmth,” he remarked.
Pakistan has regularly dispatched relief aid to Lebanon and Gaza in response to Israeli attacks. Recently, Lebanon and Israel reached a ceasefire, halting Israeli bombardments.
“The people of Pakistan stand in solidarity with Lebanon during these challenging times,” Tarar stated.
In response, Makary expressed gratitude for Pakistan’s humanitarian support during the crisis in Lebanon and reaffirmed Lebanon’s commitment to enhancing ties between the two nations, according to the press release.
