LAHORE
In the aftermath of the recent escalation between Iran and Israel, the repatriation process of Pakistani citizens stranded in Iran is also currently underway. After the Pakistan government issued instructions for its citizens residing in Iran to return home, arrangements were made for them to come back via land and air routes.
Assistant Commissioner of Taftan, Qasim Shehwani, told Voicepk that more than 1,500 Pakistani citizens have returned from Iran so far, including approximately 800 students. These individuals were brought back to Pakistan via buses through the land routes of Gwadar and Taftan. He stated that the returning citizens are being accommodated for one day at Pakistan House, where arrangements for food and lodging are available. Afterwards, they are being transported to Quetta, from where they head towards their respective hometowns. He said all facilities are being provided at the expense of the Government of Pakistan.
One Pakistani family, however, returning from Iran contradicted the government’s claims, describing the facilities as being inadequate. The family from Islamabad, requesting anonymity, told Voicepk that their son and his friend had gone to Iran on June 10 for a visa interview for Mexico, as there is no Mexican embassy in Pakistan. Both were residing in Tehran and had registered with the Pakistani embassy in Tehran after the Israeli attack. However, due to a shortage of buses and a large number of citizens, they had to rearrange their return via a private vehicle at their own expense, which, according to them, cost a total of 1,800 dollars. The family described the facilities at Pakistan House as poor, stating that only one meal was provided in a day and the accommodation conditions were unbearable.
Mohsin, a resident of Hujra Shah Muqeem in Punjab, said that his cousin (uncle’s son) was still in the Iranian city of Qom along with his wife and daughter, waiting to return. He said the family had traveled to Iran for their daughter’s medical treatment and, due to the current situation, became stranded. He said he was in constant contact with them and was trying for their safe return.
According to Mudassir Tipu, traffic jams on the roads in Iran are causing delays in travel, so mobile phones should be fully charged, while extra care should be taken for elderly people, women, and children during travel. The ambassador advised all citizens to keep the contact numbers of the Pakistani embassy in Tehran and consulates in Mashhad and Zahedan with them and to contact them immediately in case of any difficulty.
Meanwhile, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has started special flights for the repatriation of Pakistanis stranded in Iran. PIA’s first special flight brought back 107 Pakistani citizens, arriving late Tuesday night from the city of Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, to Islamabad. According to the press release issued by PIA, due to the closure of Iranian airspace, these Pakistani citizens had traveled overland to Ashgabat, from where they were repatriated.
So far, neither the Pakistani nor Iranian government has released official statistics regarding the exact number of Pakistanis currently present in Iran.
The recent tension between Iran and Israel began when Israel launched airstrikes on Iran on June 13, 2025, under the operation named “Operation Rising Line.” This operation targeted Iran’s nuclear facilities, military centers, and key military personnel. Among those killed in the attack were Major General Mohammad Bagheri, Chief of Staff of Iran’s Armed Forces, Hossein Salami, head of the Revolutionary Guards, as well as several senior officials including nuclear scientists. Following this situation, several countries, including Pakistan, issued immediate repatriation advisories for their citizens.