Birmingham: Why are stranded passengers in Pakistan and AJK being charged for charter flights, when £75m is available to bring them home
In a video message, The British High Commissioner in Pakistan Dr Christian Turner said: “We know the frustrations some of you have had with PIA during industrial action, cancellations as well as costs.”
Statement From Razia Tariq Hadait British Citizen Stranded in Pakistan
My name is Razia Hadait I live in Birmingham and I came to Pakistan on the 27th February, for my son’s wedding. We were due to fly out on the 27th March, but the country went into lockdown 2 days before we were due to travel and our flights were cancelled. It is now 3 weeks into the lockdown.
I had emailed the British High Commissioner in Islamabad; Birmingham MP’s including my local MP, (Help@fco.gov.uk), CMD crisis help and any other contact that was sent to me yet had no response from anyone except Shabana Mahmood’s office.
It has been announced that 75 Million pounds was put aside to repatriate British Citizens, how is that fund being used and who is supposed to benefit?
We had travelled on Emirates and have checked the website which states that refunds will be offered or vouchers to only be used to travel back from Pakistan; our agent is saying that no refunds will be offered. This experience has been so traumatic, and I can’t imagine travelling back to Pakistan let alone returning.
We have had no practical support, there is a lot of mistrust and flights are being announced and then cancelled with short notice, people are having to pay extortionate prices just to get home to the UK. People who had already confirmed seats via PIA are arriving at airports to be told the flights are fully booked. How could these planes be fully booked when you have already paid and have confirmed seats? This is because the travel agents are making money on new tickets.
We are asking both the Government of UK and Pakistan to take urgent steps to repatriate British Citizens stranded in this lockdown and take the charges of flights into their hands and not the travel agents’. I have had many families message me yesterday telling their plight of paying over the odds and having to return back from the airport.
To travel back to the UK I have to raise another £5000 or more to purchase new tickets because the travel agents are hiking the prices at ridiculous rates.
We have businesses in the UK that have been shut due to the lockdown with bills piling up alongside expenses rising in Pakistan. Money is running low as we cannot access our money and money exchanges are closed due to the lockdown. We are at a crisis point.
We would like to know where the government relief is going as it’s not helping us stranded Brits.
We are British Citizens and want to return home, my sister travelled with me and is now running low on her medication.
We have been let down by both Governments while other people are making profits on our losses.
Read More: https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/sparkbrook-family-stranded-pakistan-after-18091420
https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/644835-british-government-to
