Pakistan seeks help to evacuate nationals from Yemen

Pakistan has sought the help of several countries to evacuate its nationals from Yemen, the foreign ministry said on Saturday.

"We are also in contact with all neighbouring countries of Yemen for evacuation of Pakistanis there without visa by any safe means," a foreign ministry spokesperson said.

Spokesperson Tasnim Aslam said the government's priority was to work for the "safe exit of our citizens from Yemen as main airports are dysfunctional, land routes to operating airports and sea unsafe", Xinhua news agency reported

She said in a statement that citizens of many countries were stranded and Pakistan was in contact with them for possible joint movement of people in convoys under security.

Media reports suggest there are around 1,000 Pakistanis working in Yemen.

People living in Yemen are vulnerable to all sorts of crimes, including kidnapping as the state system is collapsing, reports said.

Some stranded Pakistanis in Yemen told the media by phone that they were facing problems in leaving.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has given instructions for immediate evacuation of the stranded Pakistani families in Yemen, keeping in view the deteriorating situation there, the PM Office has said.

The prime minister directed that steps should be taken on war footing for ensuring their safety and evacuation.