On May 22nd, 2024 Wednesday (Today), the first of several repatriation flights arranged by the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province landed in Peshawar, Pakistan, bringing home 290 Pakistani students from Kyrgyzstan. This follows recent unrest in the Kyrgyz capital of Bishkek that prompted many Pakistani students studying there to seek evacuation.

Later in the day, a second special flight carrying around 200 students from Bishkek arrived safely in Peshawar. Provincial ministers, the PDMA DG, and other senior officials were present at the airport to welcome the Pakistani students.

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) administration took the lead in facilitating this initial flight out of Bishkek. In total, over 4,000 Pakistani students are expected to return home by day's end courtesy of government-organized airlifts.

Details remain vague regarding the exact nature of the incident in Kyrgyzstan that sparked the evacuations. More information should emerge in the coming days on these events as well as final student return figures.

Speaking at the Peshawar airport, Minister Meena Afridi stressed the provincial government's commitment to protecting its citizens abroad, saying "The students in Kyrgyzstan will not be left alone in difficult times. We are dedicated to bringing our children home safely."

Many emotional parents welcomed their children at the airport. The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) provided arriving students transportation and continued compiling lists of remaining Pakistanis in Kyrgyzstan.

Parents expressed profound relief at having their children back on Pakistani soil. "We are so thankful to everyone who made this happen," said one tearful mother.

The timely intervention by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa authorities garnered much parental gratitude. "We are relieved to have our kids back home," another parent remarked.