20110228
xinhua

ISLAMABAD, Feb. 28 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan said Monday that evacuation of citizens by air, land and sea is being worked for those who wish to leave Libya.

The Foreign Ministry is in close contact with Pakistan Navy and Pakistan Air Force for evacuation through sea and air, officials from the Foreign Ministry said.

There are thousands of Pakistani expatriates in Libya and several who have returned said that Pakistani expatriates and students are stranded and want to leave the violence-hit Arab country.

A group of Pakistanis has already reached Tunisia and is being looked after for evacuation to Pakistan by the embassy in Tunis, officials said, adding a group of Pakistanis are moving towards the Egyptian border and Pakistani Embassy in Cairo will receive them and make arrangements for their evacuation.

Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani directed the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar and the Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir to assure the safety of Pakistani expatriates in Libya.

In implementation of this directive the Ministry of Foreign Affairs set up a Special Task Force that is working around the clock to monitor the situation and provide assistance through our Embassies in Tripoli and in the region to Pakistani expatriates in Libya, according to the Foreign Ministry.