Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has launched a special flight operation to repatriate over 150 Pakistanis stranded in Iran after the closure of Iranian airspace, according to official sources.

A special PIA Airbus A320 aircraft departed from Peshawar and landed in Ashgabat, the capital of Turkmenistan, where the stranded Pakistanis had been transported from Iran's Mashhad city.

The Pakistani nationals, including citizens from Tehran and family members of embassy officials posted in Iran, had been stuck for several days due to regional flight disruptions. According to sources, their movement from Iran to Turkmenistan was facilitated by the Pakistani embassy in Tehran in coordination with local authorities.

“The flight carrying the repatriated Pakistanis will land in Islamabad late tonight,” a senior official confirmed on condition of anonymity, as they were not authorised to speak to the media.

The airlift comes amid mounting concern for citizens caught in travel limbo due to heightened tensions in the region, which led to the temporary suspension of civilian air traffic over Iranian territory.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in close coordination with Pakistan’s mission in Iran, devised an alternative route to ensure the safe return of affected nationals. The embassy played a pivotal role in organising transport from Mashhad to Ashgabat.

Officials said that PIA will continue its special flight operations on the directives of the federal government, adding that more flights are expected depending on the evolving situation.

This latest operation underscores Islamabad’s efforts to maintain connectivity for its diaspora during regional crises, while also highlighting the logistical challenges faced when traditional air routes become inaccessible.